When I was Young...

By Razan Alfakhouri - Senior VCAL

When I was young I transferred from my country (Jordan) to another country (Australia), which was hard for me to deal with because it’s my second language. I didn’t know how to communicate with other people and I didn't know their customs and their traditions and what they like and what they don’t like, because myself and my family have different customs and traditions. They were making fun of me because I was a different person. But I trusted myself and every time they laughed at me they were letting me become stronger and stronger. But it was very difficult to prove myself to them because I couldn't talk to them or understand or communicate to prove myself to them. But I did, I tried my best.

...After two years I had learned English and everything about Australian customs and traditions. I was much stronger than I had been two years earlier.

When I went to high school in Year 7 It was a little bit hard for me to communicate with people and to make new friends. I tried very hard to become one of them and I did. There was still a little fear of being mocked again. But they were nice to me, and I became more proud of myself for what I did and what I have become now. I challenged myself and everyone. And now I’m an Australian person!

I have learned from what happened to me, that if all the world is against you, you just have to prove yourself whatever the difficulties and how hard it is or whatever the circumstances. You have to challenge the world and trust yourself and prove yourself to the world.

Thank you for reading my story. ^-^

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VCAL Complex Project

When I was Young...

By William Smith - Senior VCAL

Yellow and Black! What fantastic childhood memories being surrounded at the football by like- minded people. We all have one thing in common - a passion for the Richmond Football Club!

There is always a swarm and sea of yellow and black amongst the crowd.

At the football, there are many different cultures surrounding and many different religious beliefs surrounding me.Some I hadn’t experienced before from the types of players that now play for the Richmond Football Club. Bachar Houli is a perfect example with him being from a Muslim background where he prays up to 5 times everyday for his Islam beliefs. He has shared that at first he found it a struggle to balance his religion and his love for the game. While playing AFL for the Richmond Tigers he explains in his new book called “ Faith, football and family -Bachar Houli” on how he has managed day to day life, his religion and his football career.

The Richmond Football Club has demonstrated how they have embraced Bachar Houli and socially included his beliefs into the club. This has a special place in my heart because players can come from many different countries around the world with their own religious beliefs, and be included into the group with no racism or discrimination against them.

Bachar Houli also runs a foundation called The Bachar Houli Foundation or (BHF) where this foundation helps develop young leaders within the Muslim community, and also creates employment pathways as well as promoting social inclusion through elite football programs. This is another example of how he has been able to use his AFL influence for positive outcomes.

As a reflection; I think back to when Bachar Houli joined the Richmond Football Club. I did not know a lot about Muslim beliefs. However, through his actions and role modelling, I have become much more aware of the ability for him to be able to play AFL and practice his beliefs. The RFC enables him to do this by allocating a prayer room for him to use whilst at the games and at training. This is truly social inclusion.

As the picture shows - Many beliefs, Many Cultures, One Tiger Army!

I feel such social inclusion whilst at the cauldron they call the MCG as I watch our great game. This game they call AFL is not just a game it brings a congregation of people together to form one - that is social inclusion across many different cultural diversities.

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