Giving youth a chance

Rap 4 Change
Passionate. Dedicated. Caring

Solomone Fotu has been giving back and helping smooth the bumps on the road for vulnerable young people ever since he was given a chance to overcome his own challenges.

He grew up in a family that struggled with money and other issues. But his life took a turn for the better after joining the Rap 4 Change leadership program, which taught him vital life skills.

Solomone is now a volunteer leader with the group, which is a beacon of hope for Mount Druitt teenagers and young adults who are unemployed or struggling with substance abuse and self-harm.

He and his fellow volunteers show young people how to make positive choices through the Rap 4 Change school programs, hip-hop lessons, mentoring and sporting activities.

The team also provide counselling to people in juvenile detention.

They encourage young people to consider vocational training, and they help to prepare them for employment.

The charity also runs a baseball club where kids as young as five can have fun and learn teamwork and social skills that help them stay on track in school.

Solomone feels blessed to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero. “It is a great achievement for me knowing where I was in life and where I am now. It will definitely help motivate me to go for bigger things in the future,” he says.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. Rap 4 Change will use its funds to run a leadership program for 20 at-risk people to help them into education or full-time employment.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here