Advocacy for Oromia exists to improve the settlement process and advance the wellbeing of
Australian-Oromos. This year, seven Oromo asylum seekers who received letters of support
from A4O have had their political asylum applications accepted and received permanent
residence permits.

This is a very exciting outcomes of our support because it has given hope
to those who had uncertain life. We have also assisted 12 households for power bonus
saving application and have received $250 from the Victorian government. We also assisted
those who are not familiar with Centrelink online services such as setup MyGov and report
income statements online. This has made it easier for many people to use digital services to
fulfill their obligations.

A4O organised two important cultural events: Irreecha Birraa held in October 2022 and
Irreechaa Arfaasaa held in Jun 2023. Oromo Indigeneity is rooted in a connection to land
and nature, and all that the Earth gives to us, and so, we thank the Earth for providing us
sustenance and shelter, for giving us rain when we face drought and the sun when the rain
threatens our crops and cattle. With this in mind, we ran the Oromo Thanksgiving events as
they open up opportunities for the Oromo community to come together adorned with their
culture and for the new generation living abroad to grow up learning about the Oromo
culture.

Furthermore, it enables communities not to remain isolated, to come together and
connected, which play a major role in community mental wellbeing, safety and life. It also
allows the Oromo culture to play a role in developing a multicultural Australian system.
Another aspect of the work carried out through A4O during this year is the engagement
initiated with actors such as HWPL to promote a culture of peace in the world. Thus, for the
first time, peace education training was given to 16 members of the Oromo community. In
addition, Melbourne’s Oromo youth proudly participated in the first ever multi-cultural
peace festival.

On this day, they made other communities aware of the peaceful culture that
Oromo have been preserving for many years. They also made the harm being done to the
Oromo people due to the lack of peace in Oromia. The young Oromo expressed their hope
that lasting peace can be established if the Oromo people form alliances with peacekeepers
around the world alongside their individual efforts to establish peace. We participated in
the peace rally held in Melbourne and conveyed a message to all parties to help each other
to make peace.

The other two major events we held here at the Rose House were the Oromo Martyrs Day
held on May 15 and the 50th anniversary of the OLF held in July. These events have special
meaning for the Oromo community who have fled their homeland for political reasons and
settled in Australia as they are strongly linked to the history of the Oromo liberation
struggle. The Martyrs Day is a day to remember Oromo martyrs and renew our vows to the
Oromo heroes who made unrivalled sacrifices for the peace, freedom and humanity of
Oromo.

The 50th anniversary of the founding of the OLF is the day when the Oromo
nationalists found OLF in 1973. Because of this organization, the Oromo people is fighting
for the return of peace and freedom. The Oromo community in Victoria has also been able
to gain political support because of the strength of this struggle. For this reason, both the Oromo Heroes Day and the commemoration of the founding of the OLF are a time to reflect
on the past, reflect on what they are going through, and anticipate the future.

Advocacy for Oromia was established as a self-help group in 2014 with the purpose of
enabling and empowering Oromo people, by providing accurate and timely information,
referral and direct case support that help them make better choices in order to create the
kind of future they wish to live. The Association is committed to standing for people who are
disadvantaged. Through community education, direct support, information provision,
referral, capacity building and advocacy, Advocacy for Oromia work towards the realisation
of their vision; a world where all people are empowered to manage problems and to create
opportunities for themselves and others.

A4O will continue to be involved in facilitating and organizing impactful activities, cultural and historic events in the future. We would also like to thank those who contributed to the success of our events.