Lunorphare Folly, better known as Luna, was announced as a member of the Victorian Multicultural Commission this week.

Mr Folly was appointed as a youth commissioner to the independent body that acts as conduit between Victoria's multicultural communities and government.

"It has been an amazing journey so far," he said about the appointment.

Mr Folly applied for the youth commissioner role five months ago after completing a leadership course with the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

"During that course I realised I could be helpful in a role like that because I have done a lot for the youth in Ballarat but would love to do more for other regional areas as well," he said.

Mr Folly has worked with Centre for Multicultural Youth in Ballarat and now works with Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council's community engagement team.

His life in Ballarat began in 2008 when he was eight-years-old, after his family was selected to move to Australia as part of a settlement program.

Mr Folly was born in Benin in Africa during a time of civil war and his family fled to neighbouring Togo, which was his mother's home town.

The family stayed in a refugee camp there for seven years before being selected to move to Australia.

"I remember how cold it was when we first came. We were on the bus straight from the airport from Melbourne," Mr Folly said.

"My first memory was definitely a positive one and still to this day is a positive one."

Watch Luna talk about his journey below.

Mr Folly and his six siblings lived in Redan and went to an English as a second language class at Macarthur Street Primary School before moving on to Phoenix College.

Mr Folly became involved with soccer and multicultural programs run at the school by Centre for Multicultural Youth.

"That gave me the stepping stones to not only learn, but realise I could do a lot more by helping my community as well," he said.

Mr Folly said his experiences adjusting to life in Ballarat helped him connect with other young people from different cultures.

"Like most multicultural kids, when you first come here it is not easy. The language barrier for example being one challenge, you don't really connect with anyone in your first year or two," he said.

"I have had people drive by in their cars and yell out racial slurs, it has gone as far as people throwing a glass bottle out their window.

"But that doesn't really phase me. There are always people like that. But if you look past that there are a lot more good people, especially in Ballarat.

"Since the day we came our church and multicultural groups helped us. Organisations like CMY, BRMC and Ballarat Youth Services have helped a lot.

"Having those associations around definitely helps you look past the downsides."

Sport played a big role in helping Mr Folly make friends and become a part of the community.

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As well as loving playing on the field, he has played a big role in running the African soccer team, including taking them to tournaments in Melbourne.

"Those activities gave other multicultural boys and girls something to look forward but also something to do that would help them connect with their general community and other multicultural people," he said.

"That played a big part in me realising this is what I wanted to do."

Mr Folly said young people had been incredible dealing with the pandemic under the immense pressure of stop and go school and sport.

"My message to the young people of Victoria is to stay safe, get tested when feeling sick and get vaccinated as soon as you can, so we can celebrate the important times with people we love," he said.

"At this stage, I think young people need some reassurance things can go back to normal sooner than later. I know we can do this because Victoria has some of the best groups of young people in Australia."

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Mr Folly will help inform multicultural policies and will attend multicultural events and conferences around Victoria and Australia if COVID-19 restrictions allow as part of his new youth commissioner role.

"I would like to think I can help the community as much as they have helped me," he said.

Mr Folly is one of eight new appointees to the Victorian Multicultural Commission who will meet as a group for the first time in a few weeks.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence said she looked forward to working with the new commissioners to ensure the government was supporting multicultural communities to the best of its ability.

"The commissioners are a vital link between Victoria's multicultural communities and government - and those relationships have never been more important," she said.

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