christmas at Catherine House “It was amazing to have a full Christmas Lunch with so many options available. It made me feel special and part of a community”
Newfound Courage Transforming Lives
Initially as a Catherine House client I had not anticipated my affiliation would continue upon my departure, flourishing into an empowering new venture of speaking of my experience of homelessness. As a volunteer guest speaker, I am offered an opportunity to advocate and create awareness for women experiencing homelessness, publicly sharing my lived experience. My first participation was a Catherine House International Women’s Day event speaking about Gender Bias reflecting on the impact it has had on my life. Intimidated and struggling to identify any value in my story I apprehensively delivered my first speech. I had not expected the emotional response displayed by the audience, with several members approaching me to share how they were moved. With feedback on my courageous display of vulnerability and eloquent communication style, I received the gift of realisation that my self-concept did not equate to the concept identified by others. As the momentum grew so did invitations received from Community and Industry Leaders to speak at their events. With each experience I grew stronger and more courageous thanks to the introduction of this healthier new self-perception. Understanding my previous negative self-concept was a construction of my own internal dialog, I am therefore able to recreate it to that of my own choosing. This sense of empowerment has given me permission to embrace future experiences, ensuring my approach has a clear purpose and deliberate intent. The significance of understanding both agency and structure and how it is responsible for the identification of self, I have since realised I can proceed with confidence and engage in interactive communication with trust in my skills and abilities. With this newfound courage I aim to enhance my impact through sharing my story and courageously embrace my passion for this worthy cause. With each engagement more successful than the last, it is increasingly important to capture the motivation of each event. Particularly the clarity of self -perception that has enabled this success. As I enter my ninth commitment, I intend to continue to welcome each experience and embrace the required courage and strength. I am honoured to have this opportunity and intend to continue using my voice to represent the many women who have yet to find theirs.
Christmas is always a special occasion at Catherine House, thanks to our generous supporters who make sure our clients receive gifts and a beautiful meal on the day. At a time of year where our clients may feel more isolated than usual, it means the world to be able to provide them with something special to brighten their day. Special thanks to Adelaide Central Market Authority and Austral Meat for providing beautiful produce and meat on the day and Nonna's Cucina and Rosa Matto for their assistance in preparing the meal! “I’m thankful I had somewhere to celebrate Christmas with a full belly and a smile on my face” “Thank you. It’s so wonderful to have somewhere to go for Christmas and not have to be alone”
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