The African Australian Football Association (AAFA) is a not-for-profit community and sporting organization. The young people we work with tell us they prefer not to be defined by labels. It is important, however, to explain that most of our work focuses on young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, 12-25 years of age. Our activities are not only limited to football (soccer) but conducting a variety of youth mentoring and leadership workshops throughout the year.
Young people can encounter significant barriers as they try to settle in Australia or navigate life as multicultural young people. Alongside the challenges of growing up, they are adjusting to different cultural, academic and social expectations – and often shifting between cultures, at home and outside of the home. Their sense of wellbeing and belonging can be considerably diminished by factors such as racism and discrimination. These barriers are often compounded and magnified by services and systems that are ill-equipped to provide the specialist support they need.
Despite these complex issues, we know that African and CALD young people have the enterprise, resilience and optimism to contribute to the continued prosperity of Australia. By engaging them as experts in their own lives and focusing on their strengths, they can be empowered to adapt and thrive through the many programs on offer at our Association.