Staff from Springvale Community Centre, Keysborough Learning centre and Southern Metropolitan Adult Community and Further Education director Robyn Downie. From left: Kor Pouc, Denis Minogue, Robyn Downie, Elena Sheldon, and (front) Leah Douglas, Mary Fox, Matt McDonald.SPRINGVALE Community centre has won an Adult Community Education (ACE) award for its Partners of Tomorrow project.
The Sudanese youth project triumphed in the category of innovation at a recent ACE awards ceremony.
The project addressed issues of language and cultural barriers that young Sudanese people face in southern metropolitan Melbourne. It also encouraged Sudanese youth to become active in the community and build their leadership capacity.
The mayor of the City of Greater Dandenong Youhorn Chea congratulated the Springvale Community Centre, Southern Ethnic Advisory and Advocacy Council, Task Force Community Agency, Victoria Police and the council’s social development unit for the program’s success.
“The project brought these organisations together to deliver a multifaceted program that was initiated by Sudanese young people,” Cr Chea said.
“As the project progressed, the partner organisations faced and overcame a number of challenges. As a result, they have recognised that it may be beneficial, in some instances, to move from a service provision role to one where they empower individuals and the community to better look after themselves.”
