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Hagar exists to restore the lives of women and children who have survived severe abuse, slavery and sexual exploitation.
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Hagar Australia
Hagar News | Autumn 2015
FROM OUR CEO
Hello to Hagar Australia friends and supporters,

I have just returned from the Bali Process Regional Symposium on Trafficking in Bangkok, addressing 35 governments on key trafficking trends and the importance of recovery for survivors. I won’t lie... I was a little nervous about the idea of addressing such a significant forum. Whilst I have done many talks, I had never done one so formal or of such significance. The team worked hard to prepare for the presentation, and when the moment came I found my voice and passion to speak for the survivors we serve at Hagar.

I am not alone in finding some days at Hagar tough.  So many of Hagar’s 300 global staff are stretched every day in courts, in meetings or in counselling sessions with clients. The environments we work in can be dangerous, the subject matters of paedophilia and rape are crude and confronting however we all here to do whatever it takes to support those who have survived unbelievable trauma.

Kate
Kate Kennedy
CEO Hagar Australia
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AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS VISITS HAGAR CAMBODIA
The Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls, Natasha Stott Despoja visited Cambodia and Myanmar in February to discuss issues including domestic violence, rape, female political representation and gender equality.

Hagar was fortunate enough to host Ms Stott Despoja during her visit, where she met with lead program staff and two former clients. The two women, both survivors of trafficking, abuse and neglect, shared their stories of incredible transformation through Hagar's programs.

In the Ambassador's International Women's Day address she said of the visit, 'I have met with survivors of slavery and extreme abuse in places around the region. Most recently in Cambodia I met with young women at Hagar International, who, with Australian support, are building new lives.'

To read more about the ambassador's visit to Hagar and the young survivors stories, read this SBS article on our website.

We thank DFAT for their support of our work.
 
STYLE FOR LIFE


Sunday July 26, 2015
Hair Salons, Australia-wide
 
At a Hagar Loungeroom event in Melbourne in 2014, Hagar Patron Rachel Griffiths got chatting with hair product tycoon Eleven’s Rob Gattuso and A-List hairdressers Joey Scandizzo and Marita Onn. Together they hatched a plan for a brand new Hagar fundraiser – Style For Life. In two years, Style For Life has raised more than $59,000 that has been channeled straight into Hagar’s Women’s Economic Empowerment and Recovery Programs in Cambodia.

Last year’s Style For Life saw 28 salons, 200 stylists and over 1000 people across Australia get involved. This year, we want it to be bigger and better than ever. We are now inviting hair salons to sign up. We’d love to raise as much as we can for Hagar's women’s programs. The more people who get their hair done, the more women we can support. It’s as simple as that.

 
We asked Rachel about her plans for 2015 Style For Life.

Why does Style For Life work so well?
Style For Life makes so much sense to me. Hagar has great supporters in the industry. They get to do what they are good at; their staff love the fun of the Style For Life Sunday and pretty much everyone in the Hagar community goes to the hairdresser don’t they?

What happens in the salons on Style For Life day?
For the last two years, there has been such a great atmosphere in Style For Life salons. Last year at Joey Scandizzo's Salon in South Yarra, my kids were getting haircuts, there was frozen yoghurt, friends were in there having their hair done. We all went for lunch. It was so much fun.

On a serious note - why is Style For Life so important?
Hairdressing is a very important vocation for many Hagar survivors. The industry is very closely related to women’s economic empowerment and self esteem. As a vocation, it is incredibly powerful for women. Joey and Marita have done wonderful masterclasses in Phnom Penh for Hagar clients recovering from the worst human rights abuses. Eleven Australia has donated so much product and professional salon equipment to support these women to create their own businesses one day. It is an industry that in places like Afghanistan, Cambodia and Vietnam empowers women. It gives women income, and a great haircut or style can make a person feel great. So yes, Style For Life is a fun day but there is a real connection to the work Hagar does. I urge everyone to get involved.

Rachel Griffiths' guide to Style for Life Sunday July 26, 2015.
  • Nominate your salon to participate
  • SAVE the date – July 26, 2015
  • Make a day of it. Plan blow dries/hair cuts and colours with girlfriends and then go out for lunch or Sunday drinks. Or book haircuts for the whole family.
  • If you are a salon, email info@elevenaustralia.com to be part of Style for Life in 2015.
For more information on Style for Life, visit our website.

 
        
 
A SYSTEM JUST FOR CHILDREN

In partnership with UNICEF, in February Hagar proudly launched a groundbreaking report on Voices of Child Victims and Witnesses in Cambodia’s Criminal Justice System. It is the first study of its kind documenting the terrible experiences of children in Cambodia’s courts.

"Too often children are poorly protected, unnecessarily exposed to their perpetrator and inadequately supported by the current justice system. This study makes recommendations that could ensure children can provide evidence in safety and with confidence, so that justice can be done.”
- Steve Penfold, Hagar Cambodia Country Director.


 
SUMMER DRINKS SUCCESS AND AFGHAN LAWYER PROGRESS
On a beautiful summer evening at the end of February, over 100 Melbourne Hagar supporters gathered at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron in St Kilda for Hagar's Summer Drinks. The night had two purposes; to share the progress of Hagar's lawyer in Afghanistan who had been recruited after the 2014 event, and to raise funds to employ her for another year. 
 
Our Country Director for Afghanistan, Sara Shinkfield, addressed the room via video message to share updates from the field over the past year and highlight the significance of having a lawyer on staff.
 
The event was an overwhelming success, with fabulous live and silent auction prizes from our sponsors at Husk, Jonathan Leahey Sculptures, Rolex, Cadrys Rugs, Family Love Tree, Serge Thomann, Jac + Jack, Constance Roe, St Kilda FC, Australian Grand Prix, Eleven Australia, RockWiz and many more.
 
With their support and the support of everyone who attended, we are pleased to announce that Hagar will be able to extend the Afghan lawyer's contract for another year. Thank you to all of our sponsors and attendees for making the night a success.
 
CAMBODIA

211 children were supported to reach their full academic potential in 2014.

30 bikes were donated and 30 more are in transit thanks to Australian NGO partners Bikes4Life. The bikes will help reintegrated clients get to school in their provence. 

The Legal and Protection team cooperated with international law enforcement to ensure that a foreign paedophile was re-arrested and deported to face criminal charges for crimes committed in Cambodia against minors.
AFGHANISTAN

Six girls are developing leadership skills and self-confidence by learning how to skateboard with the NGO Skateistan.

The US State Department has granted two years of funding to continue the Forgotten No More Boys Recovery Program.
VIETNAM

Three of our clients have been accepted to work as casual staff for two leading hotels in Hanoi after completing their six-month on-the-job-training. It is such a testament to their hard work and non-stop effort to achieve their goals.
Read one of their stories at the end of this newsletter.
GET INVOLVED

Run for Hagar

Get your hair done on July 26 for Style for Life Day

Volunteer to pack envelopes in Melbourne for the next mail appeal

Work behind the scenes at our next event in Melbourne or Sydney.

Click here for more ideas on how to get involved.
WORK FOR US AND HELP SURVIVORS IN VIETNAM AND AFGHANISTAN

Hagar is currently recruiting for the following international positions. Click each position for more information and please share with your networks.
HAGAR AT REGIONAL TRAFFICKING SYMPOSIUM

Our CEO, Kate Kennedy was invited by the Attorney General's Department to present at the Bali Process Regional Symposium on Trafficking for the Purposes of Labour Exploitation in Bangkok, Thailand last month.

The Bali Process focuses on raising regional awareness of the consequences of people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crime, and developing and implementing strategies and practical cooperation in response.

Hagar's expertise in individual case work with survivors was recognised and it was a fantastic opportunity to contribute to regional discussions with over 35 governments and advocate for the importance of holistic recovery services.
STAFF PROFILE: MEL

We are very pleased to introduce Mel Connell as our new Relationship Manager. Mel has just returned to Melbourne with her family after eight years living in Asia and will be working on events and other partnership ideas. We asked Mel to write something about how she came to be here: 

'I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the wonderful work Hagar does four years ago whilst living in Singapore. A group of expat woman formed a group called Birds of a Feather and supported Hagar. Kate Kennedy came to speak at one the lunches, and I was shocked to learn that a child could be bought for $90 or that 73% of slavery occurs in Asia. This was happening in my backyard and I knew then I couldn't sit back and ignore the situation.

Fast forward five years and a move back to Australia and here I am. We have some exciting events planned including a product partnership launch with Husk, a Sydney cocktail party and our annual Ladies Lunch to Liberate. And we have a men's event in the pipeline too. I would love to hear from anyone who is interested in being an ambassador
' - Mel

Contact Mel by email or call 0427 672 426
HUSK PROMOTION
Hagar is delighted to have partnered with HUSK to support the Women's Recovery program in Cambodia. Husk is generously donating a percentage of the proceeds of every online purchase of the Husk+Hagar Duo sensory pack (pictured). 
It's the perfect present for mothers day!
A POSTCARD FROM VIETNAM

Our Business Support Officer, Sophia recently travelled to Vietnam and met with our Country Director Kerry Kelly and had the opportunity to see first hand the growth and development of Hagar’s programs in Vietnam. 

'Having volunteered with Hagar in the Melbourne office for several months, this was the chance to really understand the work Hagar does and how it is changing the way recovery services support women who really need it there. Momentum is growing in Vietnam so the timing was great.’ - Sophia

Click here to read about Sophia’s experience and the groundbreaking work our staff are doing in Vietnam.
Hien’s whole family, including Hien’s mother, her siblings and herself, were survivors of domestic violence committed by her alcoholic father. Hien's childhood and adolescent years were full of hopelessness and fear whenever he was home. Due to family pressure to bring in an income, Hien could not continue her education even though she passed the entrance exam to high school. Hagar found Hien when she had hit rock bottom. 

Hien was diagnosed with hysteria due to her traumatic past. With the support of Hagar counsellors, she has learned how to deal with her anxiety and control her feelings and behaviours in daily life. It was a difficult start to her recovery but Hien is showing strong determination to change her life. She was a very proactive attendant during the personal wellbeing training course organised by our counsellors. 

Hien dreams of serving good meals for her family and friends, which has inspired her passion to become a chef. After completing Hagar's career-orientation course, she excitedly joined a vocational training cooking course and then got a job at a Singaporean restaurant four months later.

“Everything is just like a dream to me. I have a job, I can do what I am always dreaming of, and I have friendly fellow housemates and a safe home.”  Hien said.

Though she is capable of good performance at work, Hien has often struggled with her anxiety and lack of confidence. She was under great pressure from her family and was beginning to struggle to make important life decisions to fulfil her dreams. Noticing this, Hien's counsellor and case manager provided her with continuous support.

It is still a long journey but I believe Hien can overcome her obstacles as she has very strong inner strength," said Hien's counsellor.

To pursue further development in her career, Hien decided to quit her job to apply for an unpaid six–month training course at a chain of five-star hotels in Hanoi. This decision was courageous, as it meant she would not be able to financially support her family for the next six months.

Speaking of her decision, she said: “Though my parents are upset with my plan, I am determined to lead my own life at least this once!” After one month of hard preparation, Hien was finally selected to train at the Intercontinental Hotel, one of the best hotel chains in the country. She worked as a trainee in the kitchen to improve her skills and knowledge to become a professional cook in the future.

After graduating in January 2015, Hien was accepted to work as a casual kitchen assistant at this prestigious hotel thanks to her great performance. This success means a lot to Hien as it has proven to her that she does have a bright future and, just as importantly, that she can overcome her fears and anxiety.

We are looking forward to seeing Hien enjoy her new workplace and develop her potential. 
WHATEVER IT TAKES
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