 | From the Office of the Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural
Affairs
p990811a.nma
Wednesday, August 11, 1999
GRANTS REWARD ORGANISATIONS WITH DISTINCT ENDEAVOURS
The Victorian Multicultural Commission's Small Grants Program has gone a long
way to helping the Albanian-Australian Community Association and the Free
Kindergarten Association of Victoria fund two very different projects.
The Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, Phil Honeywood,
today presented the Special Project Grant cheques at both organisations'
headquarters.
Mr Honeywood presented:
· a $6000 grant to the Albanian-Australian Community Association to assist
with administration expenses for the overwhelming demand arising from the
Kosovo conflict;
· a $4000 grant to the Free Kindergarten Association of Victoria to produce a
series of full colour posters for use in early childhood settings, depicting families
from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The funding was part of the 1998/99 VMC Small Grants Program which
distributed $750,000 to hundreds of community-based organisations.
"The VMC Small Grants Program helps organisations conduct an enormous array
of varying activities, such as the two groups recognised today," Mr Honeywood
said.
Mr Honeywood praised both the Albanian-Australian Community Association and
the Free Kindergarten Association of Victoria for their commitment to their
respective endeavours.
He said the Albanian-Australian Community Association was quick to respond to
the world-wide humanitarian effort to house displaced people from Kosovo.
"The demand that resulted from the Kosovo conflict provided many uplifting
examples of how a tragedy can bring out the positive aspects of human nature," Mr
Honeywood said.
"Housing the evacuees in Australia required a united community response. The
Albanian-Australian Community Association was among the first to put its hand up
to play a leading role."
Meanwhile, Mr Honeywood said the benefits of the initiative of the Free
Kindergarten Association of Victoria would also be significant.
"The Free Kindergarten Association of Victoria has undertaken a commitment to
create a series of colour posters that will be used in early childhood programs to
discuss the nature of Victoria's multicultural communities with children," he said.
"This will expose young children to diversity from an early age and will be another
important tool that showcases and celebrates Victoria's multicultural make-up."
The Albanian-Australian Community Association and the Free Kindergarten
Association of Victoria were two of ten organisations to receive VMC Small Grants
Program funding under the Special Project Grants category.
Media enquiries: Nicholas Tzaferis (03) 9651 5799 or 0417 256 661
Email: nicholas.tzaferis@dpc.vic.gov.au
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