Giving women hope

Sweet Dreams Foundation Limited
Brave. Loyal. Passionate

Altruistic Sonya Sarkis has raised funds in her community and put her savings towards setting up a comfortable and stylish temporary home for local women fleeing domestic violence.

Sonya has spent 20 years doing pro bono work and established her volunteer-run Sweet Dreams Foundation last May to give women somewhere safe to live until they can transition to longer-term accommodation.

The charity is also setting up support groups for the women and programs to help them become self-sufficient in the future.

“I am blessed to be in a position to be able to provide some of this needed support to others,” Sonya says.

“This charity was set up in honour of my late mother and those women who did not have the resources or support to escape domestic violence.”

One of Sonya’s rewarding experiences was rescuing a woman who had been left at the side of the road by her violent partner. “Today, she is happy, has attained a Master’s in Education and is teaching at a private school,” says Sonya.

Sonya is honoured to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero. “This nomination has further motivated me to continue this work and leave a positive legacy for the next generation,” she says.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. The Sweet Dreams Foundation will use its funds to provide counselling for women. It will also buy furniture for group meetings and computers.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here