Kicking goals while volunteering at the Western Bulldogs
Silvestar came to Australia with very little English, but has been able to lean English and find community connection in Yarraville Community Centre’s AMEP classes. With his newfound confidence, he has started volunteering at the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation.
Silvestar arrived in Australia from Bosnia Herzegovina in 2019. He came to be with his sister, after both of his parents had died. Once he got settled in Melbourne he immediately signed up for the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) at Yarraville Community Centre. Silvestar said he wanted to, “learn English for my future. Everywhere you go you need English!”
Over time Silvestar’s English improved, but he realised that he needed practice outside of the classroom. He was also interested in giving back to his local community.
“The Western Bulldogs community foundation came to talk to my class at Yarraville Community Centre and because the Western Bulldogs is the most famous club for footy and I wanted to try for volunteering.”
He completed his documents and police check, and started as a volunteer. Silvestar remarked that, “I’m working as a volunteer there and actually I’m learning English there. I forget things I have learned in class at Yarraville Community Centre if I don’t practice them at the Western Bulldogs.”
Silvestar appreciates the opportunities he has had in his AMEP class and is looking hopefully towards his future. “In my country I worked as a bookbinder for 20 years – actually I did lots of things in the publishing and printing house. I want to work in printing in Australia. The technology is better in Australia. In my country I was working with my hands, now if I worked in printing I would be working with machines!”