Pianos Are Us - Jesuit Social Services

Pianos Are Us artist Tadros Hanna.

Before emigrating to Australia from Egypt in 2015, Tadros Hanna worked as an architect and interior designer. When he found himself unable to practice his profession in his new country, he turned to visual art as way of making meaning and connection with his new community.

Tadros received support from Jesuit Social Services Settlement Program, which linked him with services and programs to help him successfully settle in his new country. Through the Settlement Program, Tadros became a participant in the Diversity Through the Lens project, which supported participants to take photos that documented a sense of community connectedness, sharing themes of harmony, diversity and belonging.

Tadros says the Diversity Through the Lens project “connected me with people who shared the same values, and enabled me to be part of this wonderful community”. After the upheaval of starting again in a new country, Diversity Through the Lens “was another step in my life, getting back to my dreams to be a visual artist”.

In February 2018, a piano painted by Tadros was featured in the Play Me, I’m Yours exhibition, which has seen over 1850 pianos installed in 55 cities worldwide. When the project completed, the piano was relocated to the site of a former bus stop in Alfrieda Street, St Albans, which Tadros helped convert into a temporary pop up park.

Tadros says that he sees “children and the people in the street get inspired” by the project. “I’m really happy when I’m walking in the street and I see people play the piano, and people come and gather around them and start talking. What is nice is that you start fighting against violence in the street by putting a piano there for the people”.

Tadros’ current solo exhibition, Pianos Are Us, is an extension of the concepts developed in the Play Me I’m Yours project. Tadros says that he sees the work in this exhibition as a “a request to everyone to find his piano and collaborate with his soul, his heart and the world to create a human melody”.

Pianos Are Us is showing at the Hunt Club, 775 Ballarat Road, Deer Park until 22 June 2018.

“When I do art, I am free.” Thuc’s story

Thuc Tran, a participant in Jesuit Social Services’ Western Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect program (MHWC), which supports the family members and carers of people with mental illness and substance use issues, is a true testament to the power of community support. Born in Vietnam, Thuc immigrated to Australia as a refugee with her family 1995. Thuc entered our MHWC program after feeling overwhelmed by her caring responsibilities for her 14-year-old son.

Homework Club’s annual Iftar event continues to bring the community closer

At Kensington Town Hall in inner-city Melbourne, children as young as three gathered round a large table spilling over the edges in glitter pens, Ramadan themed colouring pages and games. Amidst the buzz of artistic chaos, Tatil, a participant of Jesuit Social Services’ Homework Club program since grade one, now in grade nine, mentioned, “the worst part about Homework Club is the homework! I love everything else. I get to hang out and play with my friends…I also think the people who help us are really kind.”

Alliance key to climate justice in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is on the frontline of intensifying heat, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels. Remote communities and homelands across the Territory are particularly at risk of these impacts with many Aboriginal communities already facing food insecurity, a lack of safe drinking water and access to reliable, affordable electricity. The Climate Justice Alliance, established in the Territory in 2021, strives towards a just transition - one that focuses on adapting to the impacts of climate change, and on the alternative economic futures needed to ensure justice for people and planet.

Neighbourhood houses building climate resilience and community connections

In the city of Darebin, nestled in the inner north of Melbourne, there are many community members who experience multiple forms of disadvantage and are vulnerable to the impacts of heat. As extreme weather events become more frequent, the Centre for Just Places is working closely with communities like Darebin, to build climate resilience. The Centre empowers them to cope with the impacts of climate change and to continue thriving as connected, vibrant communities.

School canteens feed curiosity

The Currawong Kitchen school canteen was established in 2020 to provide healthy school snacks, catering, and food hampers to families in the historically disadvantaged and under-serviced area of Mount Druitt. Two school canteens now sit alongside Jesuit Social Services’ affordable grocery stores, Ignite Food Store and Open Pantry, where the parents of school children can shop in a supportive, educational, low-cost setting. As Chandelle, who oversees Jesuit Social Services' food security programs in Western Sydney, explains "We’re different from a typical school canteen. We’re passionate about inspiring children to be curious about what they eat and encourage them to try a variety of healthy foods. We want them to develop their palates and trust their taste."

Sharing our vision with Jesuit leaders

In January, Jesuit Social Services was honoured to host special visitors from the global Jesuit community. Fr Arturo Sosa SJ is the Father-General of the Society of Jesus, the global leader of the Jesuit Order. When he visited Australia for the first time, we were delighted that he made time to visit our Richmond office. This is the first time a Father-General has visited Jesuit Social Services.

Annual Dinner 2024

More than 200 people gathered at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 1st for Jesuit Social Services’ Annual Dinner. The event has traditionally sought to deliver a thought-providing keynote on important social justice issues, give attendees a chance to network and mingle, while raising funds for the organisation’s work. But this year, fundraising took a back seat in favour of more time to connect and build relationships.