The company’s work to stamp out global poverty had Sam considering ideas for what he and his peers could do – at least a starting point for their Western Bulldogs’ Leadership Project.

“I’m really about giving back to the community and contribute to help provide the same opportunities that I’ve got,” Sam said.

“Being involved in the community gets people to be more outward in their lives. A lot of people get distracted in their own zones.”

Sam said that while Thank You spoke about issues like access to high-quality drinking water, his group in the Leadership Project had been looking for ways to promote awareness of racism in the Ballarat community.

But similar principles in raising awareness could apply.

Participants are less than one month into the six-week program. Sam could hardly wait for what might unfold in getting to understand more about the Ballarat community and learn from different leaders in his town.

The Bulldogs’ Leadership Project extends from the western suburbs across western Victoria. This is the second ‘premiership season’ in Ballarat and new programs have launched in Portland, Ararat and Stawell.

Meanwhile, Bulldogs-led men’s health program Sons of the West is set to start its premiership season this week. The free men’s health program will kick off again in Sebastopol and Wendouree with new bases in Maryborough and Smythesdale. Ballarat produced a combined 76 graduates last season. Most men have continued to meet in active and healthy social settings.