A new community program of the Western Bulldogs in partnership with the local councils of Melbourne’s west, the Whitten Project aims to develop the civic leadership skills of young people in the western suburbs.
Elana, a year-nine student from Brimbank, became interested in the Whitten Project when a friend described it to her.
“I had a family friend who was working at the Brimbank Council who suggested it to me, and I wanted to become involved because it seemed like a good opportunity,” Elana said.
After an application process, Elana and 40 other young people were accepted as the project’s inaugural intake.
Participating young leaders engaged in leadership training, met sports role models and developed an individual community project centred on a local sporting or community club.
“I’ve enjoyed meeting all the different sporting people who’ve taught us about leadership like Bianca Chatfield and Brendan McCartney,” she said.
Elana harbours a passion for seeing her local cheerleading club opened to wider participation.
In accordance with the Project’s theme of sport and community clubs for all this year, her primary objective is to enhance gender and cultural integration within the club.
“I want cultural diversity in the gym, I want it bigger… we’ve got 200, 300 athletes, I think only about 10 of them are male,” she said.
“I’d like to… let people know it [cheerleading] is also a male sport and to let them join in.”
To achieve these goals, Elana plans to issue a survey to current members of the club and hopes to use the survey data to assist promotional efforts aimed at non-members.
Reflecting on her time with the Whitten Project, Elana identifies newfound confidence and leadership skills as personal outcomes.
“It seemed like a good opportunity… to up my confidence and help with my sports levels and my leadership,” she said.
“It has actually helped a lot with school and outside activities… a teacher has asked me to run a football session with one of the year levels [at school].”
Elana acknowledges the Brimbank City Council’s support.
“We learned about what the Council does for the community and their involvement in sport and in leadership, and through them we did the community leadership project,” she said.
2013 Whitten Project students will attend a final graduation on Monday 25 November 2013 to acknowledge their participation and achievements. The Western Bulldogs hope to make the program an annual fixture.
