Hearts Connected Across Generations: Community Visits to Gallipoli Home

At the heart of the Gallipoli Home is a commitment to dignity, cultural respect and human connection. Established to support elderly members of the community from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Gallipoli Home provides not only residential care, but a familiar environment that honours faith, language, food and tradition.

For GTCF, community care does not stop at the mosque gates. One of the most meaningful expressions of this is the regular visits made by Gallipoli Girls, a branch of Gallipoli iYouth, an initiative dedicated to nurturing the next generation of Muslims through faith, service and personal growth. These visits are designed to foster spiritual connection, respect for elders and a sense of responsibility toward the wider community.

On a recent visit, the girls arrived carrying an array of desserts and small gifts for the residents. What followed was a morning filled with warmth and sincerity involving conversations shared across generations, verses of Qur’an recited together, and even participation in the residents’ daily morning exercises. It was an exchange of joy, not just a visit.

For Nia, one of the Gallipoli Girls members, the experience was both new and deeply moving.
“I have never visited the home before. It was a good opportunity to meet elders, and reading Qur’an for them on a Friday was so rewarding,” she reflected.

Former iYouth Coordinator Melis Er described the broader spiritual impact of these visits:

“Some will read the Qur’an to them, others will simply sit, talk, and remind them they are loved and remembered. The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘He is not one of us who does not show mercy to the young or respect to the elderly.’ Every word of kindness, every moment of listening, and every gentle smile is a form of sadaqah — a reward that continues beyond the visit.”

Strengthening Community Through Cultural and Linguistic Connection

This month also marked the beginning of visits from the Palestinian Women’s Group, another step in GTCF’s ongoing effort to strengthen social connection and support vulnerable members of the community. The women brought gifts, warm conversation and companionship to the residents, many of whom speak Arabic and deeply appreciate the opportunity to converse in their mother tongue.

For some residents, these visits provide more than company; they restore a sense of familiarity and belonging through shared language and cultural understanding. At the same time, the Palestinian women become more aware of the services, support networks and opportunities available within the wider Australian community.

Reem Elzir, Palestinian Community Facilitator, shared the purpose behind the initiative:

“A group of women from the Palestinian community visited the Gallipoli Aged Care Home as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen social connections and support intergenerational engagement. The visit provided an opportunity for meaningful interaction, cultural exchange and companionship between the women and the residents. This initiative aims to promote community involvement and reduce social isolation.”

These visits also sit alongside GTCF’s broader efforts to support Palestinians who have escaped persecution in their home countries, empowering them to rebuild their lives while integrating into Australian society with confidence, connection and cultural pride.

A Living Connection

What makes these visits so powerful is that they go beyond charity or formality. They are grounded in shared spiritual, cultural and linguistic identity, creating a depth of connection that words alone cannot capture. Youth are taught the value of service and compassion through action. Elders are reminded that they are respected, remembered and deeply valued. New community members find belonging through contribution.

At GTCF, these visits reflect a simple but powerful truth: when generations meet through faith, culture and compassion, hearts truly connect, growing the community stronger together.