Empowering Youth in Melton’s South Sudanese Community

Young people are kicking goals with this community-led group at the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY).

Story by  
April 17, 2025

Meet Adut. She migrated to Australia as a teenager, and quickly noticed the lack of services catered towards young people from multicultural backgrounds. Motivated to support the people in her community, she went on to study a degree in community development, and eventually started her work with Jamma at CMY’s Melton office. Now, Adut is a Project Officer who manages the Jamma’s Youth Leadership programs.

Jamma was established in 2019, as the Community Support Group (CSG). This year, after a competition that asked South Sudanese youth to contribute their ideas for a new name, the team adopted the name 'Jamma' meaning community or gathering. While their name has changed, their work has remained the same at its core, empowering South Sudanese youth across Melbourne to achieve success and reach their full potential. 

In her role, Adut spearheads multiple youth initiatives aimed at nurturing the next generation of leaders. Among these is the Youth Advisory Group, which brings together young people from diverse multicultural backgrounds to address pressing issues affecting local youth. Their insights directly inform program development, ensuring that the community’s needs are met. Whether a young person seeks support in education and employment or wants to explore their passion for music or sports, they’ll find tailored programs ready to empower them.

From outreach to self-referrals, Adut is proud to see the level of interest in the team’s work grow. Word-of-mouth has turned out to be a powerful marketing strategy, and one that speaks to the efficacy of their work. 

Headshot of Adut (Photo by Sam Biddle / CMY).

"This is what keeps me going, and I am proud to say that I support my community.”

“In the beginning, we really tried to make ourselves known and to establish our place in the community. Now, a lot of young people and their families are approaching us.” 

At first, there were also very few participants from other backgrounds joining their programs, but over time their reach has expanded. Jamma has designed their programs to address the specific needs of young South Sudanese people, and yet people from the broader African community in Melton have been knocking on their door and showing keen interest.

 “Congolese refugees have been arriving in big numbers in the Melton area over the past couple of years. Some of them have come to us, and we never turn them away.”

The work is fulfilling but is not without its challenges. It can be difficult to cater to young people who are at risk and facing complex issues such as financial hardship, housing instability, or the youth justice system. In these cases, referrals are made to other organisations, and the participant benefits from a network of support. 

Adut shares that there is strong advocacy coming from the Jamma team, and they also utilise a high number of referral points. This allows them to assist as many young people as possible. “Many of them feel inclined to deal with their health issues or legal troubles privately, but when they come here, I can show them where to go and how to overcome these hurdles.”

It is the success stories that make it all worth it. Adut’s face instantly lights up when she talks about the Young Women’s Group. This is a program that facilitates regular mentorship sessions and discussions on important topics such as health, relationships, and discrimination. Adut is particularly passionate about this program because it provides a supportive environment for young women to come together, form friendships, and learn from each other.

“There are three young women in particular who we were able to assist with driving lessons and resume writing. Now, they each have their driver’s licence and a job. They are ready to face the world.”

One of the major annual events for young women is the leadership camp that takes place every December. In its fourth year, Adut was in disbelief to find that the number of bookings had jumped from ten to forty. 

“The girls were in high spirits and were all friendly with each other for the three day duration of the camp,” Adut beams. One of the attendees spoke highly of their own experience at the camp, describing the activities as not only being fun but also deeply meaningful. 

“The camp was truly inspiring, and it felt like a community of strong, supportive women coming together. It gave us the opportunity to connect, share wisdom, and create lasting friendships.”

Jamma are achieving great things and, with enough funding, they hope to continue to run these amazing programs and activities. The goal, as Adut puts it, is to engage with and empower more and more young people in the community to take opportunities that will benefit them in the future. 

Sometimes you see a young person heading down the wrong path, but if you give them enough support and try to push them in the right direction, you see them getting somewhere - whether it be getting a job, graduating, or starting university,” said Adut. “This is what keeps me going, and I am proud to say that I support my community.”

Adut speaking with a community member in a workshop

Cathy is a passionate storyteller from Good News Melton, drawing from her experiences in community services and local government to inspire and uplift her community.

Meet Adut. She migrated to Australia as a teenager, and quickly noticed the lack of services catered towards young people from multicultural backgrounds. Motivated to support the people in her community, she went on to study a degree in community development, and eventually started her work with Jamma at CMY’s Melton office. Now, Adut is a Project Officer who manages the Jamma’s Youth Leadership programs.

Jamma was established in 2019, as the Community Support Group (CSG). This year, after a competition that asked South Sudanese youth to contribute their ideas for a new name, the team adopted the name 'Jamma' meaning community or gathering. While their name has changed, their work has remained the same at its core, empowering South Sudanese youth across Melbourne to achieve success and reach their full potential. 

In her role, Adut spearheads multiple youth initiatives aimed at nurturing the next generation of leaders. Among these is the Youth Advisory Group, which brings together young people from diverse multicultural backgrounds to address pressing issues affecting local youth. Their insights directly inform program development, ensuring that the community’s needs are met. Whether a young person seeks support in education and employment or wants to explore their passion for music or sports, they’ll find tailored programs ready to empower them.

From outreach to self-referrals, Adut is proud to see the level of interest in the team’s work grow. Word-of-mouth has turned out to be a powerful marketing strategy, and one that speaks to the efficacy of their work. 

Cathy La
is a journalist at Good News Melton. She ipsum ultricies aptent sollicitudin est congue. You can find her stories here.

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