A program that trains migrants and refugees to help out at school tuckshops has lost its state government funding.Nayara Sousa says volunteering at her local school tuckshop allowed her to make Australian friends and learn about Aussie culture firsthand.
"This program helped me because I can improve my English and I can get to know about Australian culture and meet new people."Since 2019, the program has received yearly grant funding from the Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program, but its application was rejected in the latest funding round. "It is regrettable to know that the Connections through Cooking project is ending due to lack of funding," Ms Oliveira said.
Ms Wooden said they had a waiting list of volunteers who wanted to join the program, but who were now left wondering."We currently have 36 volunteers ready and willing to be placed in school tuckshops, but without the funding to continue to employ project managers, we simply can't support them," Ms Wooden said.
"The CMQ grants program operates annually, and we welcome previous applicants to reapply in future rounds."School tuckshops on the brink of collapse, peak body warns