As a group that works with hundreds of youth from emerging multicultural communities, Helping Hoops shares the wider community’s concern regarding the recent gang-related violence in Melbourne.
It is well publicised that these gangs predominantly consist of recent immigrant (such as South Sudanese) and other ethnic minority groups. Although we do not know the individuals involved, we work closely with their communities to prevent their youth drifting into these gangs by providing a positive alternative.
Although violence in any form is unacceptable and we should be appalled by incidents such as what occurred at the Moomba Festival, it should also be noted that individuals choosing to enter into gang-related activities are in the overwhelming minority. Unfortunately, the thousands of young people who are making positive choices, including the hundreds we have the privilege of seeing each week through Helping Hoops, do not receive the same media attention as those who choose the path of antisocial behaviour and violence. The abhorrent behaviour of a few should not reflect the values held by the many, and we ask that people look beyond the sensationalised media reports and see emerging multicultural communities for what they truly are – full of amazing people doing amazing things and adding to Australia’s already rich history of multiculturalism.
