Volunteer in Sydney: Cats, Clay and Community: A Very ARV Kind of Saturday

arvpresident
May 26
3 min read

Over the month of May, ARV events include cats on yoga mats, clay-covered hands, spontaneous volleyball in the park, and volunteers who stepped up every single time they were needed. If you're curious about volunteering in Sydney with kids and young people from refugee backgrounds, here's a little taste of what it actually looks like.

🐾 Cat Yoga (Yes, it’s a thing!)

Our teens started the morning at a private yoga studio with Regina and two rescue cats from Animal Ark Rescue. The cats could not have been more different. One was a little scared and kept to themselves, a good reminder that animals, like people, need space and patience to feel safe in a new environment. The other was a complete social butterfly: on the mats, in laps, demanding attention with zero shame.

Plot twist: In a turn of events, we were short a yoga instructor, but never dear, two of our volunteers jumped straight in and led the whole session themselves and honestly, they were stars.

Beyond the downward dogs, we also picked up some genuinely useful knowledge about cat care, things like what they need to feel comfortable, and how to responsibly own a cat. Regina made it engaging with the kids asking questions.

When the session ended, there were kids and volunteers alike helping pack up and leave the studio spotless. No one had to be asked. That kind of thing makes our day.

A shy cat peeks out while two volunteers give an yoga class.

🥪 Lunch and chats in the park with games

Lunch at the nearby park turned into a full afternoon. One volunteer came loaded with board games keeping the teens going for hours. Meanwhile, the more energised kids and volunteers played soccer, with one of the teens teaching others how to serve in Volleyball. As you can imagine, there was a lot of retrieving of balls stuck in trees.

Cat during a yoga class given a back scratch

For young people still finding their footing in Sydney, an afternoon like this - relaxed, inclusive, no pressure, is more valuable than it might look from the outside. That's what volunteering with young refugees in Sydney often comes down to: just showing up and being present.

🏺 Ceramics with Ella

A separate day, a whole different kind of fun. Ceramic Teacher Ella ran a ceramics session for our Kids where everyone got their hands into clay and made pinch pots from scratch. No experience needed, just a thumb, a ball of clay, and a willingness to see what happens. The results were wonderfully varied: some charmingly wonky, some surprisingly polished, all of them made with real care and focus.

The kids really got into it. There's something about working with your hands that settles a room and lets the creativity just flow.

And because you can't have a kids' day without a bit of chaos, there was also a round of musical chairs. Loud, competitive, and exactly as dramatic as you'd hope.

Ella has taken all the pots away for firing and we genuinely cannot wait to see how they turn out. Watch this space - we'll share the results when they're back!

A few of the kids and volunteers pitched in together to clean up, clay scraps and all. Thanks again to Ella for a brilliant session.

💚 Want to Be Part of It?

Days like these happen because of people who show up, from volunteers who improvise yoga classes, pack board games just in case, and stay back to help clean up. We're always looking for more of those people, plus partners and donors who want to support youth volunteering in Sydney and make a real difference for young people from refugee communities.

Massive thank you to:

🐱Animal Ark Rescue

For the cats, the knowledge, and the morning we won't forget. Support rescue animals in Sydney.

🏢 STARTTS

A huge thank you to STARTTS for generously opening up their spaces for our sessions. The work they do supporting refugees across NSW is extraordinary, and their partnership makes days like these possible.