Cooking up a connection

The Indonesian Women’s Friendship Network is helping Greater Dandenong women to socialise and connect through fun activities.
It’s been holding free activities for mums and their children at Noble Park Community Centre, including a cooking class on Friday 2 September featuring Malaysian food, Singapore noodles and other dishes.
From 10am to noon each Friday until 9 December, IWFN will host sessions at 41 Menzies Avenue, Dandenong North.
“We will share together fruit, drink and traditional foods and all are welcome, especially women, mothers with their children,” spokeswoman Nika Suwarsih said.
“It’s time to get together, socialise and network.”
The group holds multicultural playgroup and wellbeing groups, cooking classes and lunches.
Its purpose is to socialise and connect women for friendship, support, information, activities, celebration, education, workshops, festival and networking.
The playgroup runs from 10am to 11am and includes singing, reading, writing, drawing, poem reciting, music, dancing, storytelling, and art and craft.
The wellbeing group, from 10.15am to 11am, caters for active mums and children with aerobics, yoga, Pilates, meditation, dancing, laughter therapy, relaxation and group counselling.
Participants can also try music, singing, poem recitals and writing, and attend information sessions, workshops, training, discussions and networking.
The multicultural cooking classes share food from different cultures, and give participants the chance to then have lunch together and share stories and information.
The session runs from 11am to noon.
The IWFN activities are supported by the City of Greater Dandenong, the State Government and the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition (VIRWC).
The group welcomes new sponsors, volunteers and participants. Bookings are essential.
Call Nika Suwarsih on 0412 476 998 or Lisda Indriasari on 0423 065 497, email nikasuwarsih@gmail.com, lisdaindriasari@yahoo.com.au or indonesianwomensfriendship@gmail.com, or visit www.facebook.com/indonesianwomenfriendshipnetwork.