A two-day Life Matters workshop took place 29–30 August 2009 in Blacktown, one of the most multicultural areas of western Sydney, conducted by Initiatives of Change (IofC) in partnership with Blacktown Council, SydWest Multicultural Services, Mount Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency and Blacktown Police.

One of the challenges of building a multicultural community is dealing with the conflicts between some groups – something which often involves the police. The workshop was a pilot project for young people from different backgrounds to see how they could make a positive difference in their communities. It was also designed to be a further resource to organizations that try to provide community services particularly for young people and groups who feel marginalized because of the problems of language, education and employment opportunities. The focus of the workshop was finding new meaning, direction and motivation for living.

Participants and faculty of the workshopMost of the 14 participants – students and young working people – were invited by Assefa Bekele, Community Liaison Officer with the Blacktown Police, who had helped arrange a previous IofC occasion in Blacktown featuring Imam Ashafa and Pastor Wuye from Nigeria (see report here). The workshop was presented by a group of young facilitators from IofC of different nationalities.

The program included:

• Identity – where we and others are coming from, our backgrounds and cultures, their influence on our lives
• Personal Development – ourselves, families, relationships, values, building honesty and trust
• Building Community – what is a community, how to be involved and make a difference?
• Resolving Conflict – within ourselves and the community Leadership – what does it mean, how to influence others according to what we decide, goals for the future?

Some of the group were already well motivated and were very much engaged in the community as leaders amongst their peers. Others had the potential to do so and saw new opportunities of what they could do, even starting in their own family groups. Comments from participants included:

‘I have increased my self-knowledge, self-motivation, confidence and understanding of what matters in life and within our community.’

‘If I want to see change, I have to start with myself, not to wait for others.’

‘I have learned not to underestimate the differences that I can make within my life and towards my community.’

In evaluating the course, there was also interest in future workshops of this kind combining physical activities, such as basketball training. IofC in Melbourne already has some experience running ‘Basketball camps’ which include training in life-skills.

Since the workshop took place, consultations have taken place with other community groups to see how they can pool their resources to give new hope and direction to the youth of this large and multicultural part of Australia.

by David Mills