The Western Bulldogs have been awarded $100,000 in Federal Government funding to deliver a new program in partnership with the Newport Islamic Society (NIS) which aims to positively engage young Islamic men in our community.

The ‘More than a Game’ program will use the power of sport, especially Australian Rules Footy, to help young Islamic men in the West develop leadership skills that they will use to present messages of harmony and social cohesion in local schools and clubs.

Local Spotswood Bulldog Callan Ward met potential participants at Whitten Oval yesterday.

Bulldogs CEO, Simon Garlick said that sport had the power to reach young people, irrespective of their backgrounds, in a very unique way.

“This program will use the key values of footy - team, camaraderie and respect - to build social cohesion and inclusion in the wider community,” Simon Garlick said.

“Sport is a great leveller. In our experience when you engage young people through sport you highlight similarities over and above differences”.

Through group training and individual mentoring, the project will focus on empowering young people to improve their decision making capabilities and equip them with skills and resources to understand and actively address intolerant views.

The project will incorporate the visit of the Peace Team to the Whitten Oval in late August when participants will have the opportunity to hear first-hand about the work of Peace Team players and learn from their experiences in overcoming cultural, religious and political barriers to effectively work with others.

This project has been funded by the Australian Government acting through the Attorney-General’s Department.

Photos by Mike Keating/Herald Sun