Story telling builds respect

United Muslim sisters of Latrobe Valley recently launched MY story project at Moe library.

The program was developed after 16 months of hard work . The theme behind running My story project is to give children the platform within school to learn culture differences and create the environment of respect, harmony and tolerance ensuring children are not bullied or mistreated because of there ethnicity or background.

Latrobe City mayor Kellie O'Callaghan said the program was an opportunity to build tolerance and understanding in the community. Trafalgar High School was the pilot school . Principal Jane Mersey said the school was honoured to be involved.

“Our students who participated in the story felt more confident and encouraged to share with their other fellows their background with pride."

One of the students Alan from Trafalgar High school said before the program he was reluctant to tell and talk to people about his US Eudorauian background

“Being a book in the project has encouraged me and now once I start the topic my friends ask me to stop,” he said.

The project is an initiative of United Muslim Sisters of the Latrobe Valley, which will be delivered by the help of Centre for Multicultural Youth, Gippsland Multicultural Services, Kindred Spirits Foundation and Nanoo Nanoo Arts for their support of this important project.

The launch was attended by educators, principal service providers and all of them appreciates the MY Story project as the concept of inclusiveness and tolerance to help build the narrative resulting in building a tolerant society. Rohanda Renwick said “we at the funding network are passionate about the region and we fund projects which make our region a place to reckon with.”

UMSLV look forward to taking [MY] story to schools around Gippsland.