After taking the programs online during 2020, the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation has been happy to have been able to re-start face-to-face program delivery this year.
With the flagship men’s health program – Sons of the West – kicking off the year in March, delivery has also now begun for the Youth Leadership Project, targeted at the leaders of tomorrow in the west of Melbourne and Victoria.
The next programs to start are two youth programs specifically targeted at African-Australian and Indigenous participants. The Nallei Jerring Koori Leadership Program (starting May 27th) and GOAL Mentoring Program (starting late June) offer practical and theory-based activities designed to enhance young people with cultural knowledge, leadership, communication and connection to community.
Since it was established back in 2013, the Nallei Jerring Program is designed to inspire, educate and encourage Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait islander young people to become future leaders in their own community. Meanwhile, the GOAL Mentoring Program has been helping young African-Australian people living in the west by connecting them with AFL and AFLW players as well as local Community Leaders.
After her participation in GOAL last year, 14 year-old Faith Mapalo Kauseni said “I am more optimistic about the future than the past, and I hope to articulate the qualities and lessons I’ve learnt from the mentors over the past ten weeks. I aspire to mentor the future generation these skills I learnt.”
Registrations for the GOAL Mentoring and Nallei Jerring Leadership Programs are open now via www.westernbulldogs.com.au/foundation. You can also learn more about the Foundation via Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @WBFCFoundation.