Moving to the city from regional areas to study can be a difficult and scary jump to make, especially when you don’t have any connections to fall back on.
The Future Voices Mandela Learning Centre Australia’s ‘Tomorrow’s Leaders Speak Today’ program, launched at the weekend, is aiming to soften that leap of faith.
The Future Voices program launched at St Paul’s African House, with the Consul General of Belgium, Dr Pierre Van Osselaer, making an appearance and speech to mark the first session.
The two-year mentorship program will uplift and bring support to young people from regional areas as they pursue their chosen careers in the fields of law, health, diplomacy and education.
Future Voices is a not-for-profit organisation that was established in 2016 and is based in Shepparton.
In its eight years, the organisation has held youth leadership summits, fostered meaningful connections across the world, including in Congo and Belgium, and run many regional and international programs, with a goal of supporting young people.
‘Tomorrow’s Leaders Speak Today’ focuses on building meaningful connections between participants and mentors, to help secure employment and provide support though education.
It is centred around Ubuntu philosophy, for which Nelson Mandela, whose work the organisation celebrates, strongly advocated.
Ubuntu philosophy is deeply rooted in community, with social connection, compassion, respect and a sense of shared responsibility of most importance.
It acknowledges the effects of individual actions on communities, and encourages people to work towards a greater good that will benefit not only themselves but those around them. These relationships should be valued, cared for and maintained through open dialogue and understanding.
Future Voices manager Rashidi Sumaili said young people, especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, faced different challenges when moving from regional Victoria to big cities to study.
The program helps minimise these challenges, and has supported a number of regional students through the big move and their schooling, seeing many become successful graduates in their chosen field.
The mentorship aspect hopes to bridge this gap by connecting participants with program alumni as ‘mentors’ of the same field, who are close in age, as well as other professionals.
Participants will have quarterly catch-ups with their mentors, offering invaluable opportunities to seek advice from someone who has gone through the same thing.
Additionally, they will receive access to career coaching, workshops and Future Voice’s global networks, mental health wellbeing and leadership programs.
While the 12 spots for this year’s program have already been filled, Mr Sumali encouraged students making the switch from regional to city for university next year to reach out to the organisation, as support was still available.
“Any regional student who plans to move to any Australian cities such as Melbourne next year to study at university and needs help, should contact Future Voices,” he said.
For more information about the program, visit: www.futurevoicesnmlc.com.au
Future Voices can be contacted at rashidi@nelsonmandelacentre.com.au