By Aaron Cordy
THE mark of the Flamingo is to stand on one leg in colonies that offer community, unity and strength. An apt name for The Flamingo Project (TFP), the not-for-profit founded and directed by Neha Samar.
The Flamingo Project aims to connect women and build pathways for them to grow. It’s a personal journey for Neha who felt like an outsider in the community, wanting to reach in and make connections and build her network and career, but not knowing where to begin. With the elevation to a not-for-profit, they now can expand on the great work they’ve begun.
“For the last two years, we have run the programs on our own time and budget. While this is something that would not stop us from providing free programs to people, we could see that it won’t be sustainable to continue in the long run,” said Neha.
“After being named a finalist for the Victorian Rural Women’s award last year, we were offered a pro-bono service by a law firm, referred by one of our well-wishers. We took the opportunity and registered as a company limited by guarantee, set up a board of directors, and are now operating as a not-for-profit. This means we can apply for small funding to support the programs. While the team is still working in a volunteer capacity, it will be helpful to reduce out-of-pocket costs and create a sustainable process to support women in the Goulburn Valley region.”
This will allow TFP to continue to build their ‘How To’ sessions, and the success of their Mentorship Program.
“We will also continue our flagship program- The Mentorship Program. In the mentorship program, we pair women based on the skills they are looking for, to someone willing and able to share their skills. To date, we have run four successful batches, with more than 100 people signed up for the program and we wish to continue offering these as it is essential to build, nurture and help each other in whatever capacity we can, as women.”
You can find out more about The Flamingo Project mentors and mentees at, https://theflamingoproject.com.au
