1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:01,160 Speaker 1: Well, my next guest. 2 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 2: I met him a few years ago when I was 3 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:06,239 Speaker 2: m seeing something for Charlesdowen University. 4 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: He does some phenomenal work around the Northern Territory. 5 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 2: His name is Ben Pervader Alfonso and he is the 6 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 2: founder I believe of the kindness Shay, good morning to you. 7 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 1: Ben, good morning, cardy to you, and troll your listeners. 8 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: It's great to be here. And yes, you pronounce the 9 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: name really well well. 10 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 2: I try my best to remember these things when I 11 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 2: am seeing event. I always make sure that I that 12 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 2: I get the pronunciation right, and then I try to 13 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 2: make sure I remember it. But then I met you 14 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 2: a few years ago when I was m seeing an 15 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 2: event for Charles Dowen University raising money for international students, 16 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 2: and I was really taken by how positive you are, 17 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 2: you know, the wonderful things that you do within the community. 18 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 2: So it made sense to me then when we were 19 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 2: going through the COVID pandemic, that you were front and 20 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 2: center trying to help other international students. And I know 21 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: that you've you have graduated, but trying to help international 22 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 2: students through that pandemic because I really weren't getting a 23 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 2: lot of support at that time were I That. 24 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 3: Is correct, Kerry, and thank you so much for appreciating that. Yeah, 25 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 3: it's been an awesome journey in Australia. It's been now 26 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 3: seven years since I arrived all the way from Colombia, 27 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 3: and yet you're right. I graduated in twenty nineteen, but 28 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 3: I will never forget where I come from. Met so 29 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 3: many really good friends and people in the industry and 30 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 3: students who only want to support the community. So, of course, 31 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 3: when the pandemic hit our community, the international student community 32 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 3: hit really really hard. Students lost their jobs, students lost 33 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 3: their source of income. They were commentary in public where 34 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 3: students were told it was time to go home. Some 35 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 3: of the financial support that was available for some people 36 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 3: wasn't available for them. So what better response to bring 37 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 3: our community together through the kind of shake which basically 38 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 3: just brought local businesses who actually had to let some 39 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 3: of their students go in the hospitality industry but wanted 40 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 3: to support the community providing free meals. 41 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: We connected with Charles Owen. 42 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 3: University, we connected with Foodbank, with Red Cross, with everyone 43 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 3: providing free meals for everyone who needed a hand. And 44 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 3: since then in April twenty twenty, it's just been evolving. 45 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 3: The advocacy and the message has been out there and 46 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 3: we're just so glad to be in a place like 47 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 3: the Territory where everyone puts a hand up to support 48 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 3: us every time we've needed. 49 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: It's been a challenge. 50 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 3: In two years, it's looking better and will continue to 51 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 3: work hard to make it better and better. 52 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,639 Speaker 2: Then. You know, for those out there listening who maybe 53 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 2: don't know a huge amount about what the Kindness Shake is, 54 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 2: explain it to that. 55 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: Sure, sure, let me get my pitch right. 56 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 3: The kind of Check is a multi award not for 57 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 3: profit organization and charity that provides support and assistance to 58 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 3: international students and temporary visa holders in order to facilitate 59 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 3: personal and professional growth through three meals like I mentioned earlier, 60 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 3: but also now we have in probability workshops, well being programs, 61 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 3: social events and cultural festival. So although we started providing 62 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 3: free meals, didn't stop us there. We continue listening to 63 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 3: the community, We continue talking to the industry and finding 64 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 3: ways us to show the importance of international students in 65 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 3: Australia and the great things that we bring to this 66 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 3: community being population growth, economic prosperity, cultural diversity and contributing 67 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 3: to our socially in rich territory. 68 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 2: And Ben, I think that, you know, realistically, what COVID 69 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: also demonstrated to us is how integral those international students 70 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 2: actually are in so many other sectors as well within 71 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 2: the Northern territory. You know, we caught up just a 72 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 2: short time ago with Alex Bruce from Hospitality into and 73 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 2: he spoke about you know, he spoke about just that, 74 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 2: and and you know of course that now are look 75 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 2: at doing online and the international students are going to 76 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 2: be able to be part of hopefully making it a 77 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 2: little bit easier. But I do think that COVID taught 78 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 2: us how important those international students are within the territory's community. 79 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: Absolutely one hundred percent. 80 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:18,920 Speaker 3: The international education industry KATY was the four largest export 81 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 3: in Australian twenty nineteen billions of dollars that people don't 82 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 3: usually realize because we alsually focus in calling gas right, 83 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 3: but international education is the largest was one of the 84 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 3: largest exports, and just in the territory it supports hundreds 85 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 3: of jobs. Each international student brings over forty thousand dollars 86 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 3: per year to the economy. 87 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: And obviously we're obviously today. 88 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 3: Talking about the announcement with hospitality and Tea and the 89 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 3: anti government about the RSA online which is especially focused 90 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 3: on the hospitality and retail industry. However, international students are 91 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 3: not just hospitality workers and retail workers. We're talking about 92 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:04,040 Speaker 3: our next We're talking about our next doctors, engineers, accountants, 93 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 3: you name it. 94 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: So it only makes sense. 95 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 3: For us to talk about it, to support them, to 96 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 3: find ways to continue welcoming them and not just bringing 97 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 3: them to the country, but finding ways to retain them 98 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 3: in the territory because we don't want them to be 99 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 3: here supported to have a life, to invest time and 100 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 3: resources and then move interstate once they're ready to support 101 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 3: our community professional. 102 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 2: I want to keep them here were able to start now, 103 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 2: Then tell me about the festival that's coming up. It 104 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 2: sounds incredibly exciting. Tell us a little bit about it 105 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 2: and how people can get involved. 106 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 3: Yes, we're really excited about our second year. The Kindest 107 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 3: Festival twenty twenty two is happening this Saturday, twenty fifth 108 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 3: of Juna the Darwin Water from from four to ten pm. 109 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 3: Is an event for everyone in the territory who is 110 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 3: interested to learn and embrace diversity and importance of international 111 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 3: students and multicultural communities in Australia. So we will have 112 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 3: thousands of attendees life we did last year. We have 113 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:06,119 Speaker 3: seven different experience zones with over thirty performances from twelve 114 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 3: different countries. Will have seven international food stalls, twenty five 115 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 3: multicultural and exhibition stalls. We will also introduce our Kindness 116 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 3: Social Club is how we called it, but it's basically 117 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 3: a bier garden where parties will be able to enjoy 118 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 3: a drink while watching the performance but also watching their 119 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 3: kids and children who will be playing on our new 120 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 3: Paering Zoo which is called Animal kind Of. We will 121 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 3: have guinea pigs, we will have bunnies, we will have 122 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 3: little obviously dogs cats for kids to play around. And 123 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 3: the highlight also will be a fashion parade starting at 124 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 3: six pm Multicultural Fashion parade showcasing the great things are international. 125 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 1: So let's bring now if we want to come along? 126 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 2: Way is it going today? What time did I need 127 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: to get there? 128 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: Sure? 129 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 3: Saturday twenty fifth of June This Saturday from four pm 130 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 3: at the Daring Water from Pressing. 131 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 1: It's going to be an event not to miss out. 132 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 2: Oh, it's going to be fantastic. Ben it is lovely 133 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 2: to speak to you this morning. I think you just 134 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 2: use enthusiasm and positivity, which is so wonderful to see. 135 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 2: It's an absolute pleasure to have you in the studio. 136 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 2: I think it's such an impressive young man and we 137 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 2: really appreciate you taking the time to come in to 138 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 2: tell us more about the Kindness Shake and also indeed 139 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 2: the festival that's happening. So good on you and the 140 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 2: wonderful little team that you've got behind you. 141 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 3: Thank you so much, Katie. It means a lot to 142 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 3: be here. It means a lot too for that to 143 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 3: come from you and the industry. We're really excited about 144 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 3: what's been happening. We have an awesome team of volunteers 145 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 3: who volunteer every single day to support the community, including me. 146 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 3: We don't get paid for what we do. We do 147 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 3: it all through passion and kindness. So it's great to 148 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 3: be here and I'm sure I'll be back soon. 149 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 2: Oh good on you, Ben. Thank you so much for 150 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 2: your time this morning. The founder of course of the 151 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 2: Kindness Shake, thanks so much for your time and we'll 152 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 2: talk to you again very soon. 153 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: Thanks, thank you.