Dear Pathways Supporters,
 

“Writing has helped me to unblock the thoughts I’ve been holding onto and in this way enabled me to better understand myself and others” - *Dovid (Pathfinder & Storytelling Program participant)

I hope you enjoyed watching our highlights from our last year at Pathways Melbourne!

As you can see, we've been busy supporting Pathfinders as they resolve their questions, heal from past experiences and find new directions. With your support, we've been able to offer them new opportunities for education and personal growth, enriched by a sense of belonging and community.

The need for our work has continued to grow over the last 12 months. We now support and empower over 80 'Pathfinders' — people from Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities who are questioning their lifestyle, practices, and beliefs (no matter where they are on their journey).

We hosted 9 Pathfinder Meet Ups and Jewish Festival Celebrations. Together we marked Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Chanukah and built community bonds through art and craft workshops and nature walks.

As part of our popular annual Storytelling Programs, we conducted a 6-part Writer Workshop Series — enabling Pathfinders to delve into their personal stories, develop writing skills and process their experiences in a safe space. These workshops culminated in our recent FREEDOM: My Story public storytelling evening. 8 brave Pathfinders shared their tales of personal challenge, courage and resilience through poetry, prose and social commentary. To protect the privacy of the writers, some of the more sensitive pieces were voiced by community volunteers.

Our PATH 4 LIFE | Mentoring Program entered its second year, empowering Pathfinders to reach their full potential and connect with others with shared life experiences. Today, Pathways is fortunate to be supported by 27 Volunteers, including 15 trained Mentors. 

We continued to advocate for Pathfinders and educate the Jewish community at 

9 Public Events, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of local and international Pathfinders. Together with Jewish community food relief organisations, we distributed 46 Food Boxes of Kosher pantry staples and fresh produce to Pathfinders struggling to make ends meet.

Thank you for being a part of our growing community of supporters. With your help, we will continue to make a difference to the lives of Pathfinders into the next 12 months and beyond.

Warm regards,

Leah Boulton
CEO & Founder, Pathways Melbourne

P.S Please get in touch if you'd like to join one of our new Pathways Giving Circles, or create your own — Leah@pathwaysmelbourne.org

*Name changed to protect his privacy