Twice-a-week at Melton West Primary School, located west of Melbourne, sessions of the 'Embrace' (Educate, Motivate, Relief, Resilience, Acceptance, Confidence and Empowerment) program kick-off with a game of basketball and a laugh.
It’s run by Sudanese-born youth worker Gum Mamur - who tried his hand in the American College system and sees the game as a metaphor for off-court life.
“I'll show you respect, you show me respect - treat people with respect regardless of their age and where they come from,” he said.
Gum arrived in Australia as a 12-year old, directly from Kenya's Kakuma Refugee Camp.
He couldn't speak English, and says he had few skills to deal with life in his adopted country.
“Growing up over there the way people dealt with issues was fighting, that's how a lot of the kids over there are brought up, when you come here it's the complete opposite, you negotiate your way through things, talk about it,” he said.
"Growing up over there the way people dealt with issues was fighting," says Gum Mamur of living in South Sudan, seen here with Steven Erjok. Source: SBS
It's an issue which confronts many students from culturally diverse Melton West Primary School.
Steven Erjok was born in Australia to a Sudanese father and Kenyan mother. The grade-four student says there was a time, not so long ago, when he suffered from anger issues.
“Normally I get angry easily I'd get into a lot of fights, and I don't mind my own business,” Steven said.
The Year 4 student says spending time with Gum, and participating in the 'Embrace' program opened his eyes to a new way of behaving.
“I learnt about bullying I learnt not to bully others even though you look different you can't bully anyone else. I remember we watched a video with Gum about Jonathan who got bullied at school because he was big and people called him names and it broke his heart - every piece of his heart was breaking to pieces,” Steven said.
Michelle Costa is Principal at Melton West Primary, and says the entire school is generally calmer and the students far better behaved as a result of the program.
“It will have a positive impact and influence on the academic data as well Naplan results and attendence as the children who participate in Embrace are coming to school because they want to be part of that program,” Ms Costa said.
Melbourne-based Social Worker Les Twentyman initiated the program after growing concern at the absence of suitable programs for primary-age children from diverse backgrounds.
South Sudanese born youth worker Steven Gamur. Source: SBS
Mr Twentyman says with Ice use and violent crime now attributed to primary age children, it's never too young to intervene and teach the right behaviour.
“A couple of Sudanese young kids have told me no-one ever teaches us to be Australian, and when you think about it - here's the keys have a good life and if they don't know how to integrate into the community and can't speak English then they're highly at risk of being at risk of being recruited by drug cartels and gangs like that,” he said.
Mr Twentyman wants to expand the program across other schools with culturally diverse student bodies and is helping to train more youth workers.
