A year of welcome. A moment to reflect.
As this year draws to a close, many of us are carrying mixed emotions. Gratitude, exhaustion, hope, and grief. Across the world, conflict and displacement continue to shape millions of lives, including many in our own communities here in Australia.
At You Belong, this year reminded us why welcome matters.
Every conversation shared.
Every volunteer hour given.
Every act of courage to choose connection over fear.
This year, our founder retraced a 100-mile route through Northern Iraq, the same roads thousands once ran in fear while fleeing violence. The journey became The Return, a short documentary that reflects on displacement, resilience, and the quiet power of human compassion.
We invite you to watch the trailer with an open heart.
Not to look away from suffering, but to remember what’s possible when people choose to stand together.
Watch The Return — Trailer 🎬
Move 100
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Raise 100
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Move 100 X Raise 100 X
As we look toward the year ahead
Your support at the end of this year helps ensure that newly arrived Waymakers are not walking alone in the next one. Together, we can continue building communities where people are welcomed, supported, and given the chance to thrive.
Because belonging is something we create, together.
Because we all belong and deserve an equal opportunity to thrive.
Become a Change Maker Today!
Help create a future where every refugee Waymaker finds a place to call home and every community thrives on the rich diversity it embraces.
Click here to donate from overseas.
Because we all Belong.
Our mission is to inspire welcome and generosity towards Waymakers in Australia and beyond; and to champion cultural diversity and the mobilisation of volunteers who are equipped to empower Waymakers to successfully integrate within their local communities — because we all belong and deserve an equal opportunity to thrive.Discover the impact of our most inspiring year yet.
I’m proud to share You Belong’s 2024 Annual Impact Report— a groundbreaking, people-powered snapshot of how your support is empowering lives and transforming communities.
Download a PDF of the report or simply click through the Flipbook right here!
There’s a place for EVERYONE at You Belong!
Curious to learn how you can make a difference?
VOLUNTEER IN THREE PRACTICAL WAYS
Be the Change, Lead the Way!
Become a Change Maker and Empower Refugee Waymakers
Help create a future where every Waymaker finds a place to call home, and every community thrives on the rich diversity it embraces — JOIN US!
Create a Safe, Welcoming & Empowering Community in Toowoomba!
The first role of a mentor is to model and promote safe driving. You Belong provides a free Road Safety Program for all participants to ensure that Waymakers are prepared for the road. In addition to passing their Learner’s Test, Waymakers are required to complete a Prep L Course and take several driving lessons with a Professional Driving Instructor. Our commitment to all of our mentors is when the time comes to venture onto the road with your Waymaker, you will feel, safe, confident and prepared, whether you are behind the wheel or in the passenger seat.
Are you interested in supporting a Waymaker to learn how to drive?
Become a Driver Mentor!
Why LDMP?
Once settled in Toowoomba, one of many barriers faced by Waymakers is gaining the confidence and opportunity to practise driving on the road.
Our Learner Driver Mentor Program provides an opportunity for Waymakers to complete their required 100 hours of road driving experience that many are unable to achieved due to many barriers, including language and access to a vehicle.
Volunteer Mentors are an integral and highly valued part of the Learner Driver Mentor Program. Mentors are supported every step of the way: from induction into the role, and ongoing training and support once they get started.
The role of a mentor is first and foremost role-modelling safe driving and then supporting Waymakers practice their driving skills already learnt from previous lessons with a Professional Driving Instructor.
Meet Rahila
Rahila is lots of things, but most importantly she's part of the human family and has intrinsic value for just being alive. You Belong wants everyone to see that refugees are more than the hard things they've survived. They have so much to offer the world when given opportunity to belong in it. We believe that with tender care and empowering support, a person who was once uprooted and displaced from everything they knew, can be re-established to grow and thrive again.