Max Hatzoglou
Football Victoria recently hosted an eight-week Multicultural Settlement Program in Sunshine that was so successful, it is continuing indefinitely.
The program aims to offer introductory football activities to newly arrived migrant, refugee and asylum seeker children aged 4-11 years old, increase their participation in football, promote social inclusion, and enhance connection with the wider community.
The program was funded through Football Australia and the federal government department of social services, as part of the Strong and Resilient Communities funding .
Football Victoria hopes the initiative can attract newly arrived young adults and parents to increase their social and economic participation in the community.
Football Victoria multicultural programs officer Abraham Abraham said the community was invited to join the program every Saturday from 4-5pm at Selwyn Park, Albion.
“[Coach] Suliman [Osman] and the Western Sudanese Community Association have been working with us on this project to empower their local community based in Brimbank,” Mr Abraham said.
“The kids have enjoyed being a part of the program and learning new skills through their community coaches Suliman and Asfaw.”
Mr Osman said the program will continue to help the community.
“We have been running this program for eight weeks and will continue to run it to inspire the next generation, we just need support,” he said.
