By Marcus Uhe
The South Sudanese-Australian Academic Society is set to receive $75,000 from the State Government for its ‘Just Drop In’ Youth Centre, Minister for Crime Prevention Anthony Carbines has announced.
The centre offers South Sudanese children and young people between the ages of eight and 16 the opportunity for them to reach their potential through educational, recreational and family support activities.
Andrew Gai, co-founder of the South Sudanese-Australian Academic Society, said he was very excited to receive the funding.
“To be able to get State Government funding, it’s encouraging to know that you’re doing something the government will join you in the field with and help you do what you can,” he said.
“The funding will increase capacity of project to help more young people and families.
“It provides an environment that is safe and culturally friendly for young people of African and diverse backgrounds.”
The funding comes as part of a suite of new multicultural and youth-focused projects supported by the State Government that will enable children, young people and families to access early intervention support services.
Mr Carbines announced three multicultural projects, including ‘Just Drop in’, would share in $725,000 to deliver a range of activities promoting inclusion, mental health and wellbeing and greater connection to local communities, as part of the government’s Crime Prevention Strategy.
Other projects to benefit are The Ubuntu Empowering Mothers project in Melbourne’s West and South East, and the Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre’s Pathways to Resilience project from Dallas.
Nineteen local community groups and organisations will share in more than $852,000 through round two of the Youth Engagement Grants.
The grants provide up to $50,000 for projects that are specifically designed and delivered by small multicultural and Aboriginal organisations to support young people to connect to their community, family, friends and culture.
The grants are part of the Building Safer Communities Program, a cornerstone initiative of the government’s Crime Prevention Strategy, which sets out a long-term approach to addressing the root causes of crime and strengthening community safety and cohesion across Victoria.
