Komatsu Marketing Specialist Kristy Gerges has always believed ‘charity starts at home’ – and this was reflective in her involvement with Komatsu’s Live your Dream program this year.
Kristy was one of nine 2023 recipients of Komatsu’s ‘Live your Dream’ employee program, receiving $10,000 to put towards a charity or organisation of her choice. Kristy chose Maronites on Mission (M.O.M), which has always held a special place for her.

“M.O.M somewhat forms a sense of my identity. I was raised in a Maronite Catholic household and displaying acts of “servant leadership” is a fundamental part of my faith and upbringing,” Kristy says.
Maronites on Mission is a group of dedicated volunteers who reach out to marginalised members of society to relieve some of their sufferings and provide some companionship.


As for Kristy’s Live Your Dream program, she participated in the M.O.M annual sleepout, in Appin, NSW, to experience homelessness for a night while raising money that goes directly back to M.O.M. On the back of this, she also participated in M.O.M’s food van outreach program, which travels from Woolloomooloo to Martin Place, providing food to those in need.



“To become homeless for a night was a completely different experience. There are no words to truly describe it, you just feel cold, your body aches from sleeping on the ground and your bones lock up. What I experienced for one night is not even a fraction of what others out there experience. I did it for a night knowing that I’ll return home to a comfortable bed the following morning, but people do this for 365 days a year with little to no hope,” Kristy says.


Kristy’s group raised a total of $35,000, which will go back to the charity to assist marginalised members of our society, through schemes like medical assistance, housing support, dental check-ups and food donations.

“I would like to thank Komatsu for their support through Live your Dream. Another reason why I applied for the program was to honour my former manager Wafaa Ghali, who recently passed away. She was the founder and project lead for the LYD program, and she always encouraged me to apply. I can’t express my gratitude in words for all the support and wisdom she has showered me with over the years. Her legacy will truly live on through the LYD program.”