Finding Hope

When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban last year, Shabnam Safa watched on with more trepidation than most. Shabnam grew up in Pakistan as an Afghan refugee, before her family emigrated to Australia when Shabnam was a teenager. 

Life wasn’t easy for Shabnam. But as her story will prove, she is more than her hardships.

For more information on the CRISP program, visit Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia.

Further links:

• NRAAG - National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group
• Action for Afghanistan

Audio Used in Episode: CNBC – Afghanistan War

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If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you - leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mel’s childhood was incredibly hard. Filled with abuse from her father, she ended up on the streets when she was just 16 years old. But, when she was 17 years old, her life was changed by one verse in the Gideon bible – Come to me, all who are weary and heavy ladened and I will give you rest.

From that moment on, Mel was a Christian. She became a chaplain, ending up in the Royal Australian Navy – her dream job. But all that changed when she experienced abuse, yet again, from a fellow officer.

Mel quickly spiralled, and, eventually, was made to take leave for 12 months as she wasn’t fit to perform duties. Mel was at rock bottom – can she rise from the ashes yet again?

Link for Mel's book: Sleeping Under the Bridge

Links to Mel's podcasts: LivingWell Talks and Living Expressions  

Resources: 

• Lifeline - 13 11 14
• 1800RESPECT - 1800 737 732 

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If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you - leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au.  

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So far, we've heard of Mel Baker’s remarkably difficult childhood filled with abuse and homelessness. But at the age of 17, her life changed from a singular verse in the bible.

Mel has a heart for people. In her early adulthood, she worked in the mission field in Papua New Guinea, studied ministry to become a Reverend and worked in global aid and development.

However, in her thirties, Mel's life is set to drastically change again – when she becomes a chaplain.

Link for Mel's book: Sleeping Under the Bridge

Resources: 

• Lifeline - 13 11 14
• 1800RESPECT - 1800 737 732 

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If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you - leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au.  

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, we heard of Mel’s unimaginable abuse from her father, her sexual assault at multiple jobs, which led to her living on the streets at 16 years old – and multiple suicide attempts. After a few months, Mel knew she would die on the streets if she didn’t return home, so she barricaded herself in her room, and went through drug and alcohol withdrawal alone for two weeks. In that time, she was looking through one of her school books, and came across a Gideon bible. For the first time in her life, Mel knew that God was with her. And she began to believe.  

Link for Mel's book: Sleeping Under the Bridge

Resources: 

• Lifeline - 13 11 14
• 1800RESPECT - 1800 737 732 

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If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you - leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au.  

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mel Baker is the kind of person that’s hard to describe in a few words – or even a few sentences. She has been through worse pain, hurt, abuse than some could ever imagine. But that’s not what defines her.

What defines her is what she did afterwards. Each and every time the world let her down – she dusted herself off and got back up again. More than that, she learnt to fly.

Link for Mel's book: Sleeping Under the Bridge

Resources: 

• Lifeline - 13 11 14
• 1800RESPECT - 1800 737 732 

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If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you - leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au.  

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mirette Abraham is an incredible woman. She’s a wife, a mother of two daughters, and she’s an oncologist in training and everyday she walks with people through the hardest days of their lives.

But Mirette has also has some struggles of her own. From struggling under the pressure of working in the hospital system – to dealing with intense post natal depression after the birth of her first daughter, she’s not afraid to tell it how it is and invite people into the nitty gritty of her life.

For details on Mirette's book and podcast, visit her website. 

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If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you - leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au.  

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason van Genderen, his wife Megan and two children brought Jason’s mum, Hendrika, to live with them after she developed dementia and could no longer live independently. Jason began making home videos with Oma – showing the highs and lows of living with dementia.

Sadly, Hendrika lost her brave battle with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia in February of this year. But Jason has compiled those home videos into a powerful documentary called Everybody’s Oma.

To see all of Jason’s home videos with Oma, visit Oma’s Applesauce on Facebook.

For information about screenings of Everybody’s Oma documentary, visit everybodysoma.com.

If someone you love is dealing with dementia, find resources and support at Dementia Australia.

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If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you - leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au.  

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trent Greentree is a fifth generation farmer from the Hawkesbury region in Sydney. Trent loves being a farmer, it’s in his blood. But the last few years haven’t been easy. Just a couple of months ago, Trent’s farm was flooded for the third time in a year. Trent’s reality is just one of thousands facing farmers across our nation. And yet, Trent doesn’t let it keep him down.

For more details on Plate for a Mate, visit their plateforamate.com.

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If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you - leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au.  

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you look at someone’s life, there are certain signposts that most people have in common. Birth, marriage, careers, kids – but sometimes, something earth shattering happens that changes the course of one’s forever. Rhonda Emonson has experienced not one, but two of these world changing forks in the road. And she’s come out stronger because of it.

For more information about Rhonda’s work and to purchase her books, visit her website.

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If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you - leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au.  

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Col Mackereth was a happy go-lucky 18 year old, who played footy and has enjoying living on his own for the first time. Then, a split second decision – a dive into shallow water, changed his life forever.

Further information:

• Col’s Work – Spinal Life Australia
• Col’s Book – Yesterday Today Tomorrow

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If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you - leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au.  

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.