Strike a pose!
Mercy Community’s Romero Centre has launched a new range of merchandise, and all profits go towards helping support people seeking asylum.
Designed to “look good, feel good, and do good”, the collection has been created in collaboration with JEBELI Market, and includes a variety of men’s, women’s, and kids’ T-shirts as well as colourful tote bags.
Last year alone, more than 16,000 individuals sought safety and security in Australia, with 3,500 finding refuge in Queensland.
Mercy Community supports around 440 of those seeking asylum through the work of its Romero Centre – which receives no government support and operates solely on donations from the wider community.
JEBELI Market was founded in 2023 by best friends Naz Jebeli and Ella Sellwood. They are a social enterprise that exists to provide economic opportunities to creatives from refugee backgrounds.
Refugees face many barriers to gaining meaningful employment after settling in Australia, including facing discrimination, having limited English, lacking local experience, being unable to get overseas qualifications recognised, being on temporary visas and having to cope with the psychological effects of displacement.
Meanwhile, research has found refugees to be highly entrepreneurial, more likely than any other group to start their own businesses.
People from refugee backgrounds often possess uncommon strength and incredible resilience, as well as the courage to take risks and the creativity, passion and determination necessary to see them pay off.
At JEBELI Market, the aim is to assist refugee creatives to begin their small business journey, by offering a low-fee platform on which they can sell their products, as well as lots of support along the way.
To purchase merchandise please visit www.jebelimarket.com.au or visit the Romero Centre, at Dutton Park.
Get in quick – with Christmas just around the corner these make perfect stocking fillers!
