August 2011

So many houses. So many on the street. I have never slept on the streets, but from the age of 15 I have never had my own house. I can't imagine what it would be like to sleep on the streets for weeks, maybe only a day or two.

Nathan.

STREAT Trainee Channi tells us about a typical week at STREAT starting from when she wakes up in the morning to when she goes to sleep...

My morning begins by getting in my work clothes - jeans, red STREAT t-shirt, black hat and runners. Then I make sure that I have a healthy breakfast. I make my way to the Growier 527 bus stop, and take the bus to the Growier train station. I catch the train to Jewell station then I walk to the tram stop to get the 19 tram to Melbourne University where our STREAT cart is located.

Throughout the day I make coffee and sandwiches to sell to all of the students at Melbourne Uni. I’ve also had to learn our new seasonal menu and I make all of the sandwiches that we sell on the carts - Middle Eastern lemon marinated eggplant, with minted labneh and za'atar, Mexican style chicken mole with crema espesa and fresh coriander, Jamaican jerk pork with sweet pickled red cabbage and Malaysian beef rendang with crispy fried shallots.

At the end of the day when everything is done at the cart and its all packed away, I head home to my pet. When I get home I take my dog for a walk or just take them to a park and just play with them. Then I help my dad out with the dinner. After tea I watch some TV before going to bed.  The next day I do it all over again, but I may not be at the cart, instead I may be at the STREAT Head Office, William Angliss or the Prep Kitchen.

Channi.

Photo of Channi walking her dog.

Resilience is the best quality a person can have and it comes through your choices as to how you deal with circumstances in your life. If you pick yourself up and keep going or fall to the ground and drag yourself indefinitely.

Chloe

Photo by Lisa Sorgini