Dr Ahmed is motivated by five core principles – social justice, sustainability development, Aboriginal reconciliation, building stronger and dynamic communities and applying democracy in action. His current leadership role will explore new ways of engaging disadvantaged youth and their families participation, decision and eliminate the culture of cover up and continued hostility and lack of co-operation among community members. The African communities will also engage with other communities to create harmony and good image of our continent in Australia.

Dr Ahmed first priority is to make Victorian diverse multicultural society a strong, dynamic and a show case “yard stake” society in Australia and around the world. A community that values its heritage while embracing multiculturalism, tolerance, respects and cares for each other. The challenges are enormous and will be faced with happiness, community member’s consultation, talents and team work of the leadership.  This stems from his own life experience; memories of being a refugee as a teen age (1978), discriminated, entrenched in poverty and treated as enemy before he knew what an enemy mean; this stand in sharp contrast to the dignity and love that he received from his family and from his adopted country Australia.

Dr Ahmed, said “My job as a leader is to help others achieve their full potential, and also want to see community members engaged actively in shaping their own futures with a confidence that comes from a sense of pride of their identity and respect and trust of each other. I hope in doing so, community members to place emphasis on local and national issues and provide moral and financial support to all youth in Juvenile justice, the homeless, and refugees regardless of their religion, tribe, race, skin color, political membership, gender, age, income, education level etc. I will not be a mouthpiece of either the government or the opposition, but I will support any youth to participate and practice his/her democratic rights within any political, social, economic, cultural and sport activities.

Born in South Africa, Kel migrated to Australia 1999 working extensively in Early Childhood Education Leadership. Kel has held roles ranging from School Liaison Manager, Youth and Kids program leader, kindergarten teacher, preschool music teacher and childcare director for over twenty years.

During this time Kel has also applied her lived experience and professional skills to voluntarily work with African youths and parents as community engagement leader, coach and mentor and is Africause Board Secretary.

Kel’s significant professional education experience and qualifications, coupled with ability to rapidly build trust through her deep lived experience of culturally and linguistic diversity enables the creation of lasting positive connections and outcomes with education sectors, community, and disengaged youths.

Abdalla Geberab is a community support worker at Africause. He became engaged in the community service industry while he was a student in his home country, Eritrea. He helped his late father in his public service office.

After completing his academic studies, he joined the education sector as a volunteer, helping students with their homework and assisting teachers. In a financial institute, he worked in the client admin department, gaining extensive experience in serving customers.

When he migrated to Australia, he discovered that serving the community was his passion and could provide significant value to the community. He attended various courses related to the community, acquiring certificates and licenses, and is currently pursuing higher certificates to further develop his skills. Given that Australia is a country with people from different backgrounds, Abdalla expanded his community knowledge to better serve the community.

Joining Africause was a significant step towards strengthening his connection with the community. This role involves working with and listening to the people. He understood the importance of supporting Australians of African backgrounds as a way to contribute to the community. One of the contributions he has made to the community is providing guidance to new arrivals regarding education, employment, and settlement.

Khaled graduated from RMIT with honours in International Business. Notably, Khaled worked for Vodafone as a managing Director for four years and in 2015, founded the Ascent Football Academy, providing pathways for young and emerging Soccer talent, to play in the Hyundai A-League and Asia League.

Khaled’s social skills, friendly approach and network makes the disengaged young people, particularly “youth from juvenile justice and adult offenders coming from prison” to connect with their communities and commence their new journey with confidence. Last year Khaled achieved a record employment (178 young people) support for members of the local communities with the JVEN project. Africause become the go to for members of the local communities for employment and other justice related support in the Western suburb, because of Khaled.

He has been volunteering for community in multifaceted areas since then. Some of Yasseen recent significant work includes:

• Yasseen is the current Multicultural Community Ambassador for AFL. He was recognised by AFL as Multicultural Community Ambassador of the Year 2013 for his support to AFL and African Community.
• Yasseen currently leads the community safety group to evening & night foot patrolling/walk with Victoria Police & African community members in the Flemington, Kensington, North Melbourne Housing Estates, Stations, flats, main roads in the local area. This has made the local area safe and trust on police has increased from the community.
• In year 2012 Yaseen established Team Africa footy team and they played at harmony cup which is a footy tournament played between 12 different ethnic backgrounds and also played at unity cup.
• Yasseen has played the key role to link the African community members and Victoria Police and help maintain excellent relationship between police and African communities across Melbourne.
• Yasseen has assisted as the first community group to organise the Cultural Food Project with Victoria Police and African community where cultural food is shared between police and African community members at Flemington police station.
• For his behind the scene volunteer work Yasseen has been honoured with prestigious John H. Kerr (Silent Achievers) community service award from Rotary Club of Footscray

• Yasseen performed as one of the actors (father) in the movie, “Falling for Saharah”. This movie has rated top 10 in Melbourne Film festival 2012, (please see the You Tube below).
• E: ​ymusa321@gmail.com

Abaas arrived in Australia in 2003 with his family. He is a father of 11 children and 8 grandchildren. Abaas is a very friendly man with great potential leadership in multicultural communities. During Lockdown Abaas with his smile and friendship skills helped many mothers and children with Africause food package delivery supported by Victorian government and our partners Igniting change and showing solidarity to our Africause community during lockdown. His smiling face has brought happiness to many stressed families in housing commission flats and other families in western suburbs who have been isolated with their children. Abaas was one of Africause’s social workers who helped those families with food, toys, games and furniture.