Who are you and what do you do at WAGEC?
My name is Michelly. I am a counselling student originally from Brazil, living in Australia since 2007. I volunteered as a mentor for the first round of the ACCESS program at WAGEC.
What does community mean to you?
Community for me is an opportunity to experience belonging, develop a sense of responsibility and learn about respecting differences. Within the community, I give what I have, and I receive what I need.
What strengths did you bring to the WAGEC community? How did you offer support?
I am a woman, helping other women to thrive. I honestly believe that with the right support, we all can achieve our goals and become valuable members of the community. When I arrived in Australia as a student, I had all kind support from people who trusted me and believed that I was capable of achieving my goals. Now, I want to be the person who supports others. I want to be there for them when they feel vulnerable like I did in the past. Sometimes, all we need is one person who believes in us, who trust us, so we can keep going.
Who is a strong woman that inspires you and why?
I am half African descendent, so I get inspired by successful black women stories. Reading about them helped me to develop my self-esteem. Maya Angelou is a great inspiration for many reasons. Her quote, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”, is my great inspiration as a volunteer in the community.
