Australia Light Foundation has recently received a grant from the The Social Policy Group Community & Cohesion Support Program for our youth aged 12-24!
With this grant, ALF has successfully held the first of the planned BBQ's and Dinners where the youth of ALF and Muslim community are the key focus. Alongside the amazing BBQ, ALF has also been running an amazing academy for our youth. The name of the Academy is ALF Soccer Academy.
The ALF Soccer Academy is a key aspect of the grant from CCSP. ALF Coaches Ibrahim, Yusuf and Adem are focusing on coaching youth from the ages of 12-18 via a combination of soccer and discussions. Discussions focus on respect, togetherness, unity, understanding others and Palestine. These are discussed in a positive light highlighting how we must all work together and be one as part of a wider community and also be a strong Australian Muslim who is respected, informed, open minded and a problem solver.
The Youth group taking part in the ALF Soccer Academy has truly been wonderful and have had great reviews from the Coaches and staff. ALF SA is currently running sessions for over 2 groups aged 12-17 and 7-11 with attendees from diverse backgrounds such as Turkish, Albanian, Australian, Somalian, Palestinian, Lebanese and Pakistani. ALF SA is also giving the youth leadership by announcing the youth group as captains and be an example for their younger teammates giving the youth an opportunity to grow in leadership, understand differences and create meaningful connections with others just like our beautiful society. The youth group has now a total of 15 regular attendees.
Coach Ibrahim has put the youth through their paces in the first half of the term and is now looking to build and further improve the youth in their abilities, confidence and characters. Coach Ibrahim has also been discussing how to be a role model, how to communicate, how to work together in teams, being a Muslim in Australia, Palestine and constant development.
ALF Soccer Academy looks forward to ongoing sessions and is looking to extend beyond the grant and continue to be a safe ground for Youth to attend, to feel heard and be apart of. We must strive to take care of our youth, as they are the fabric of the future and future generations!
One, Two, Three, ALF!!
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