Connecting Communities Through Sweet Stories – and One Remarkable Volunteer

This Monday, as part of National Volunteer Week, the Volunteer West team joined the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) to celebrate the spirit of volunteering through culture, conversation and connection.

We set up a small table filled with sweets and snacks from around the world, including barfi, jackfruit chips and baklava. Each item included its name, country of origin and a short story, creating a simple way for people to start conversations and share memories connected to home, family and culture.

And that is exactly what happened.

One volunteer shared how jackfruit is eaten fresh back home. Another reminisced about sweets sold on the streets of India. Through food and storytelling, people connected across cultures and experiences in a very natural and joyful way.

One of the highlights of the day was meeting Rob, one of ASRC’s very first volunteers, now in his 23rd year volunteering with the organisation.

Rob remembers responding to founder Kon’s very first call for volunteers. Since then, he has continued showing up and supporting the organisation in many different ways, from phone and administrative support in the early days to helping collect and distribute food today.

When asked what keeps him volunteering with ASRC after 23 years, Rob shared:

“Definitely Kon, and the values of the organisation. We’re so lucky to live in Australia. Not everyone gets that chance. I just want to help make the world a fairer place.”

Rob described this year’s National Volunteer Week celebration as “overwhelming in the best way.”

His quiet dedication and kindness were a reminder that volunteering is often built on consistency, compassion and simply continuing to show up for others over time.

The Volunteer West and Australian Multicultural Community Services team is proud to support the work of ASRC and grateful for opportunities to connect, collaborate and learn from the community around us.