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What happens when compassion crosses continents? Astrid Hocking, Lake Macquarie's Woman of the Year, joins us live from the Philippines to share her extraordinary journey of protecting the vulnerable and building resilient communities.

From the orphanage that rescues children from trafficking to teaching young mothers income-generating skills, Astrid reveals how small acts of kindness create profound change. Her stories are breathtaking – finding an abandoned baby in a plastic bag who's now thriving with adoptive parents, watching disabled adults flourish on self-sustaining farms, and seeing traumatised children grow into successful adults simply because someone believed in them.

The Umbrella Hearts program, symbolised by an orange ribbon, has grown from a local initiative to an international movement shifting conversations around child protection. Astrid's approach emphasises dignity, consultation, and changing the narrative from "you can't" to "you can" – proving that sustainable change comes when people are empowered rather than merely helped.

This conversation isn't just about charity work abroad; it's about practical ways we can all contribute to stronger communities right where we are. Astrid's philosophy that "everyone needs support and kindness" reminds us that our small actions matter, whether comforting a struggling parent at the grocery store or mentoring a local teen. Her 50-year marriage and partnership with her husband, Frank, also demonstrate how support behind the scenes makes front-line compassion possible.

Would you be ready to make a difference? Visit www.heartsandhands.net.au to learn how you can join this movement of everyday heroes creating extraordinary change.

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