A Decade of Voices: Latin Stories Australia

Trini Abascal & Cristy Abela Jan 2020. Photo by Diana Paez.

“We realised there was a strong need for a space where people could come together, build networks and feel a sense of community while being so far away from home.” 

Story edited by Cristy Abela, Trini Abascal and Lucy Coulson
In the vibrant mosaic of multicultural Australia, some voices have been waiting to be heard: the voices of Latin American migrants and refugees. That’s why we, Trini Abascal and Cristina Abela, both originally from Mexico, founded Latin Stories Australia – a platform born from a deep desire to share the untold stories of Latin American migrants who have made Australia their home. Latin Stories Australia’s journey began with a simple yet powerful mission: to connect people, celebrate culture and amplify the voices of our community.

Since our founding in 2015, what began as a humble blog sharing migration stories has grown into something much larger. From the start, we understoo the power of storytelling as a tool to connect cultures and foster a sense of belonging. For us, Latin Stories Australia was about celebration – sharing the vibrant cultures that make up the Latin community; connection – connecting the diverse Latin American communities with each other and with the broader Australian society, and inspiration – for those who were arriving or struggling on their migration journey.

The stories told on Latin Stories Australia are powerful and authentic. So, the site quickly became a space where stories of migration, identity and resilience resonated with readers, allowing them to connect on a deeply human level. As we continued, we realised there was a strong need for a space where people could come together, build networks, feel a sense of community, and explore relevant topics while being far from home. So, what began as a small project, soon became a focal point for Latin Americans across Australia. Over time, our work expanded to include meaningful workshops on topics that matter most to our community and offering support to those navigating their new lives in Australia.

Innovation and quality have always been at the heart of what we do at Latin Stories Australia. Through storytelling, photography and even a documentary film we promote multiculturalism and foster a sense of belonging. We use board games and theatre as unique ways to reflect on critical issues like gender equality and violence against women. We employ art-based cultural techniques and well-researched frameworks to empower the community, helping them explore their identities, increase their sense of belonging and feel more included in society. Additionally, we provide much-needed support with mental health sessions and food relief vouchers. Our current focus is on expanding our impactful La Sobremesa workshops, a space designed to help communities explore challenging topics such as gender equality and healthy relationships through gamification.

Full house: Nuestras Voces opening as part of the Spanish Film Festival

The impact of our work, our outside-the-box thinking and our ability to address complex issues faced by their communities have been widely recognised. In 2020, we received the prestigious OHTLI award, the highest honor from the Mexican Government, for our ongoing efforts in supporting the Mexican and Latin American communities in Australia. In 2021, for our innovative approach to community-building, we earned the Victorian Government Multicultural Award for Excellence in Community Innovation. The recognition continued in 2022, when Latin Stories Australia’s documentary, Nuestras Voces, won ‘Best Historical Film’ at the Toronto International Women Film Festival and ‘Best Feature Film’ at the Latino Feedback Film Festival. In 2023, our gender equality and healthy relationships board games project  La Sobremesa won the People’s Choice Award at the TMRWW Awards.

Today, as Latin Stories Australia celebrates its tenth anniversary, we reflect on how far we’ve come and how integral part of the Latin community in Australia the organisation has become. Through Latin Stories Australia, we have created a legacy of shared experiences, empowered community and the celebration of the Latin cultures – that continue to shape and enrich the Australian landscape today

We are deeply grateful to all the volunteers and collaborators who have crossed paths with us over these ten years (a special thanks to Tamara Ortegon for volunteering with us and then joining us as the first employee and now a board member). To our wise past and current board members, thank you for your guidance and support in helping us make decisions that have enabled our growth. Most importantly, we are profoundly thankful to the Latin American community in Australia for trusting us to share their inspiring stories and for embracing the workshops we create to support you on your journey.

For the upcoming 10 years we want our organisation to remain a vital space for connection and support for the Latin American community, and a place for celebration of our cultures. We will continue our work to foster sense of belonging, inclusion and equality.

CHALLENGES

Honouring stories - Neither of us had a formal training in journalism and/or communication. We were nervous about whether the stories we were about to tell would be perceived as authentic or professional enough, but most importantly if we would honour the trust of the person sharing their story with us. However, we quickly realised that our power lay in sharing real and honest stories – stories that came from the heart. We found strength in our shared experiences and our desire to be seen and heard.

The community engaging on conversations through La Sobremesa

Community engagement - One of the first and most significant challenges we faced was reaching out to our diverse community and encouraging attendance at our events and workshops from different backgrounds. We have focused on ensuring that each event felt relevant and accessible to our target community. We began by leveraging our own networks, word-of-mouth recommendations and social media to spread the word. We also offer free and accessible events to reduce barriers and ensure that everyone can participate. But most importantly, we overcame this challenge by creating a welcoming environment and delivered events with high quality and added-value that encourages people to come back. 

Let’s tackle it together 2023 workshops

Maximum impact with limited resources - As a small charity with limited funding, one of the most consistent challenges is how to maximise the impact of every dollar spent. From the beginning, we knew that to achieve our mission and keep our programs running, we had to be incredibly resourceful and efficient. This meant getting creative with our initiatives and prioritising activities that directly contributed to our goals, while also minimising costs. We have leveraged volunteer support, collaborated with other organisations and made sure every project had clear and measurable outcomes. Additionally, our team’s dedication and passion has allowed us to stretch our funding further and ensure our work has lasting impact.

PIECES OF ADVICE 

Trust your team - No charity can succeed without a strong, supportive team. It’s vital to trust in the skills and expertise of your team members, board and mentors. The collective knowledge and diverse perspectives of these individuals can guide you through difficult decisions, help you stay focused on your mission and provide invaluable advice. Foster an environment of mutual respect and collaboration, and rely on the expertise around you to create meaningful change.

One of our first collaboration: Casa Cultura & Latin Stories Australia

Connect with similar organisations - Starting a charity can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Connecting with other organisations – especially those that share similar goals and values – can help you learn and grow together. Collaborative partnerships often lead to more sustainable, impactful work and they can open doors to new opportunities, funding sources and innovative solutions. So a big thank you Angelina Correa and Andrew Kay founders of Refuge of Hope for their initial advice and encouragement to establish ourselves as a not for profit. Thank you to Karina and Eyal from Casa Cultura and Paola and Juan from Momentum Psychology for being our partners from the very beginning. We also appreciate the support of Gals in Australia and United, Spanish Latin American Welfare Centre.

Celebrate the small wins - When starting a charity, the early challenges can be disheartening and lead to questioning the existence of your organisation in the first place. For us, it helped to acknowledge even the smallest achievements to shift the focus from obstacles to opportunities, making the larger challenges feel more manageable. We had to remember we were not just tracking progress – we were reinforcing the belief that every action, no matter how minor it may seem, contributes to the greater good of our community.

IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS…

As we look toward the future, Latin Stories Australia envisions becoming even more deeply embedded in the fabric of Australian society. Over the next few years, we aim to solidify our role as a leading voice for the Latin community in Australia and a reference point of support for new and established migrants. 

One of our core goals is to continue advocating for gender equality and support efforts to reduce family violence within the Latin and the Australian community through La Sobremesa board games. We’re committed to being a key player in driving change, working closely with organisations focused on these issues, and creating programs that offer both prevention and early intervention. Moreover, we hope to further support the community through workshops, increase the impact of our Nuestras Voces documentary, and launch new initiatives that continue to empower the community and foster a sense of belonging and inclusion. Our vision is to create a future where the Latin community is not just included but celebrated as an essential part of Australia’s multicultural identity.

We’re excited about the next decade and the many opportunities ahead to continue supporting, educating and empowering the Latin community. This is only the beginning of our journey, and we look forward to everything we will accomplish together.

Thank you for being a part of our journey!

Thank you, Muchas Gracias,

Trini & Cristy