Afghan migrant Altaf Hussain wants to help break down the cultural barriers that divide people in the community.
The Craigieburn resident recently joined a public speaking program hosted by the Centre for Multicultural Youth so that he can share his experiences, culture and settlement journey with the wider community.
The program, dubbed Shout Out, aims to help young people have their voices heard by providing a forum for conversations between a speaker and an audience.
Altaf said the program had helped him learn about the way of life in Australia.
“Shout Out allowed me to connect with many other culturally diverse young people in Melbourne,” he said.
“Before joining the program, I was quiet. But Shout Out gave me a chance to make friends and gain confidence.
“Now I can’t stop talking and am so much more social.”
Altaf said he had gained leadership and public speaking skills and an ability to work as a team player, thanks to the program.
“I gained the confidence to share my voice with people who might not otherwise hear it,” he said.
“I would recommend Shout Out to any business or organisation that wants to better understand the refugee or migrant settlement journey.”
Details: cmy.net.au/shoutout
