WESTERN Bulldogs are gathering a new pack of young people who are passionate to make an impact in their communities.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bulldogs are preparing to launch their third Western Bulldogs Leadership Project in Ballarat, an intense six-month program for teenagers aged 14-16 to learn from established community leaders and grow in their own civic leadership journey.
A sock drive, to warm up the feet of the city’s homeless, was one of the key projects driven in Ballarat last year. The group collected 1500 pairs of socks for Ballarat Soup Bus after finding they could make a seemingly simple difference when learning socks were one of the most under-donated items for those most in need.
Leadership Project is part of a community development series AFL club Western Bulldogs has developed in partnership with councils in the club’s territory, including Hepburn, Ararat and Northern Grampians (Stawell).
The program offers opportunities for young people to build confidence, make new friends and develop leadership skills like teamwork, communication, goal-setting and resilience.
Phoenix P-12 Community College student Riley Caldow said, on graduating last year, Leadership Project had challenged his perspective and encouraged him to find his own voice more than he had realised.
Riley, not so much into football, relished the fact the program delved more into civics and social awareness.
“It was good to get to know issues not just about Ballarat, but from all over in working with members from other groups,” Riley said at the time.
“We didn’t always stick to our own project – if another group needed a little more help in one area, we would work on that.”
Nominations are open for students aged 14-16.
For more details, or to nominate a student, visit: westernbulldogs.com.au/leadership.
