New chair and tributes to Upstanders

B’nai B’rith Courage to Care Victoria has named Sabrina Chakman as its new chair following the passing of much-loved former chair Judy Glick.

Chakman, known affectionately as “Sabi”, joined Courage to Care in January 2019 and has played a pivotal role in many areas including facilitating school and adult programs, serving as a custodian speaker sharing her father’s Holocaust story, chairing the education sub-committee, and as a member of the committee of management.

“Sabi’s deep passion for education, inclusion and human rights is shaped by personal experience and professional dedication,” a statement from Courage to Care Victoria said.

For over two decades, Chakman taught academic skills and creative writing at Swinburne TAFE, has a Masters in Educational Studies and a Graduate Diploma in Careers Education, and concluded her professional career as a senior careers educator at Deakin University. She describes discovering Courage to Care as being one of the most fulfilling experience of her life, “Going into schools across metropolitan and rural Victoria enables me to talk to a diverse range of people. We learn from each other and explore together the damage that hate and discrimination cause.

“It is so satisfying to witness the students’ deep attention when a Holocaust survivor shares their ‘upstander’ story – stories of being rescued by ordinary people with the moral conviction, compassion and courage to stand up in the most challenging of circumstances. It highlights the power each individual holds to make a difference.”