Community Capacity Building and Development

In 2010, Multicultural Youth South Australia Inc (MYSA) released its 5-Year Strategic Plan which sets a blue print for achieving our vision of an inclusive and cohesive community that recognises the importance of multicultural young people and invests in their potential to contribute to the social, cultural and economic prosperity of the state. The Plan is underpinned by four key goals:

1. Create opportunities to advance the needs and interests of multicultural young people.
2. Build a high performance staff team.
3. Strengthen the role and involvement of new and emerging communities in supporting young people.
4. Work in partnership with an active and responsive community sector.
5. As South Australia's leading multicultural youth organisation, MYSA's 5-Year Strategic Plan reflects its strong commitment to developing creative solutions and expanding opportunities to advance the needs, interests and concerns of multicultural young people at both the state and national level.

Following extensive community consultation with young people and their communities in 2010 and 2011, a Community Engagement and Development Plan (CEDP) was developed to support Goal 3 of MYSA's 5-Year Strategic Plan.

The CEDP provides focus and direction for MYSA's approach to engaging and strengthening communities, with a key focus on the initiation of new programs and services to build and enhance community capacity. The CEDP also provides a framework to support a strategic approach to strengthening the role and involvement of new and emerging communities in supporting young people.

For a copy of the Community Engagement and Development Plan see resources and publication section

Multicultural Youth Development Fund

MYSA administers the Multicultural Youth Development Fund (MYDF), a community grants scheme which provides funding to refugee youth and community groups for youth development and youth capacity building projects.

The Department for Families and Communities (DFC) has invested in a commitment to supporting new and emerging communities access the resources, support and encouragement to develop local solutions to refugee and migrant youth issues. MYSA undertakes an Administrator role to work with communities and the sector to increase opportunities for refugee and migrant youth in SA. Over the last four years over $150,000 has been distributed to new and emerging communities.

The MYDF is the first of its kind nationally, that provides new and emerging communities with the intensive project management training, mentoring and support over the life of the project. The MYDF has proven to be a very successful stepping stone for communities to develop the skills and experience to build strong communities in South Australia.

The main purpose of the South Australian Multicultural Youth Development Fund (MYDF) is to:

• Provide an opportunity for newly arrived young people and community groups to access one-off funding for youth development and youth capacity building projects.
• Empower and support newly arrived young people and community groups through training, individual support and mentoring to develop and manage their own projects and initiatives.
• Equip newly arrived young people and community groups with the knowledge and skills to apply for funding through other grants schemes.
• Encourage and support partnerships between newly arrived young people, community groups and mainstream service providers.

Round 6 closed 12 July 2011

Guidelines (Round 6 sample)
Expression of Interest Form (Round 6 sample)
Round 6 Successful Recipients
Round 5 Successful Recipients

Cultural and Bilingual Consultants (CBCs)

Cultural and Bilingual Consultants (CBCs) are young people who have been trained by MYSA from the various new and emerging community groups to provide advice, support and co-facilitation in aspects of MYSA's work.

MYSA CBCs program encourages leadership and active contributions from young people by sharing their expertise, experiences and insights. CBCs have participated in a range of activities including speaking engagements in schools, research participation, consultations, conference panellists, volunteers, campaign participants and more. Access to CBCs is free of charge however MSA encourages the recognition and remuneration of young people for their time and expertise through a contribution to out of pocket expenses or honorariums.

To request a CBC for an activity or event, or to express interest in becoming a CBC for MYSA contact info@mysa.com.au

MYSA currently has over 25 CBCs on the register aged between 14-32 from the following cultural backgrounds:

• Sudanese
• Sierra Leone
• Congolese
• Afghan
• Iraqi
• Iranian
• Bosnian
• Serbian
• Burmese
• Indian
• Filipino
• Chinese
• Cambodian
• Bhutanese
• And more