Help me walk 1,000 km to give refugees a fair go

$4,031 raised

From 70 Donations

TARGET $6,000

Please support this cause

AUD

Raising funds for: N Paramanathan

My name is Neil. I’m a refugee who fled war and persecution, who has lived in Ballaarat, VIC since 2013. On 1st August, I will begin a 1,000km walk to ask our Prime Minister for fairness for refugees who’ve lived here in Australia for more than a decade. Can you chip in to support my walk? I arrived in Australia over a decade ago, when many people like me were seeking peace and safety. The government has announced permanence for 19,000 of us - but I’m one of many others whose nightmare hasn’t ended. We are volunteers, taxpayers, and hard-working individuals. We’re happy for our friends but tired of living in limbo for over a decade. We cannot return to the countries we escaped and yearn to contribute to the society we now call home. I am doing this walk on a shoestring budget with the help of volunteers from Ballaarat to Sydney. I call them our "angels" and I can't do this without them. Can you chip in so my volunteer “angels” can help make my 1,000km walk a success? Your donation could help equip me with lightweight gear, first aid and snake bite kits, high energy food, battery packs, fuel for support vehicles and other practical needs that could arise during my walk. Any left over funds which aren’t needed to support my walk will be donated to VICSES Ballaarat Unit, where I have volunteered for the last eight years. Thank you Neil Para Petition Link: https://chng.it/4qXR8zZcQZ All left over funds will be donated to VICSES Ballaarat Uniti where I volunteer for the last eight years.

Update

11 Sep 2023

Neil has completed his 1,014km walk from Ballarat to Sydney. And the end of the journey became even more special with news that Neil and his family have been granted a visa to stay in Australia. www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-10/ballarat-asylum-seeker-neil-para-completes-walk-to-sydney/102825402 Neil and his family thank you for your support but the battle for 10,000 other refugees and asylum seekers, who still live in limbo, continues. So please consider writing to your local MP or joining a refugee supporter group or even having a conversation with friends, family, coworkers etc. One of the key lessons from Neil's 1,000km walk is that when people see that a refugee is just a person, someone like them who wants to live a life in peace, the politics of fear disappears. People across Australia opened up their homes and hearts to Neil because they saw the person rather than a label. If more people are willing to have that conversation, the politicians will have to listen and 10,000 people can be given a chance to start their lives again. Thank you again for your support, this appeal is now closed but the campaign continues.

Update

02 Sep 2023

Hello Neil Para's wall for Freedom is now past the 800km mark! It has been an amazing effort to walk more than 800km, and with one week to go to Sydney, we want as many people as possible to sign the change.org/walkforfreedom petition calling for permanent visas now. Neil has taken so many steps on his journey, can you take the step of signing and sharing with friends, family colleagues and more. This week Neil was welcomed to Goulburn by Goulburn Mayor Peter Walker and Mayor of Upper Lachlan Shire Council Pam Kensit along with other local councillors and officials. Neil is on track to be in Sydney next weekend and you are invited to join him on his 20km walk on Saturday or a short 6km celebration walk on Sunday 10th of September ending at Enmore Park. Check the events page on the Union For Refugees Faceboook page www.facebook.com/UnionofAustralianRefugees or the schedule and maps are also on www.refugeewalkforfreedom.com There are 10,000 people who are living lives in limbo, fleeing danger and persecution, denied permanent visas by various governments for more than 10 years. Like Neil they want to work, raise families and contribute to Australia, knowing they are safe. Can you sign and share the change.org/walkfrofreedom petition so their voices can be heard.

Update

20 Aug 2023

Hello Neil Para's Walk for Freedom has passed the halfway mark, 500km done, 500km to go! Neil is walking to PM Anthony Albanese's electoral office to present a petition asking for permanent visas for the thousands of people like him, who have been left to leave their lives in limbo. Can you please sign and share the petition change.org/walkforfreedom. 20 days of the journey done and 20 more to go and Neil thanks you all for your support.

Update

06 Aug 2023

Neil is well on his way. He has completed five days and over 150kms but still has more than 850kms to go. Rain on some days and blisters on his feet are not stopping Neil's Walk for Freedom. The support from the communities in places like Ballarat, Daylesford, Heathcote and more has been wonderful. They all want Permanent Visas Now for people like Neil and his family. Thank you for your kind donations and please make sure you sign and share Neil's petition at Change.Org/WalkforFreedom Let's make our voices heard.

Update

02 Jun 2023

Greeting to you, I’m writing to ask you to support my 1000 Km walk from Ballaarat VIC to Marrickville NSW. By donating just $10, you can help to raise awarenenss of refugees who are still in limbo. Thank you for your donation during this strenuous time—It's supporters like you that help us change the life.

Enter your email to get updates

DONATIONS70

Anonymous

Mon, 11 Sep 2023

$ 20

Mary

Mon, 11 Sep 2023

$ 50

Katherine Twomey

Sat, 9 Sep 2023

$ 20

Suzanne Joy O'Neill

Sun, 3 Sep 2023

$ 50

Valerie Mayer

Sun, 3 Sep 2023

$ 50

Wishing you success Neil, for you and all Refugees and Asylum Seekers

$ 50

Anonymous

Sat, 2 Sep 2023

$ 30

Anonymous

Sat, 2 Sep 2023

$ 50

Bronwyn McNamee

Tue, 22 Aug 2023

$ 50

Neil, for the 12,000 of you without permanency, it's been promised and it's time you received it. What a great effort on your part to raise awareness and to seek to be heard by our prime minister

$ 50

John Davis

Tue, 22 Aug 2023

$ 20

Claire Field

Sun, 20 Aug 2023

$ 20

RAISING FUNDS FOR

N Paramanathan

FUNDS BANKED TO:

N Paramanathan

Campaign Creator

UOAR

Union of Australian Refugees

Ballarat, VIC

Created May 2023

Enter your email to get updates

$4,031 raised

From 70 Donations

TARGET $6,000

Please support this cause

AUD

RAISING FUNDS FOR

N Paramanathan

FUNDS BANKED TO:

N Paramanathan

Campaign Creator

UOAR

Union of Australian Refugees

Ballarat, VIC

Created May 2023

challenges projects, politics & advocacy