By YASEMIN TALAT
THE City of Brimbank is full of extraordinary citizens, and with Australia Day Award nominations open this week there is no better time to recognise the individuals making a difference in the municipality.
The Brimbank City Council’s Australia Day Award nominations have officially opened for 2014.
The awards recognise the many individuals and groups in Brimbank who serve the community out of the goodness of their hearts.
This year’s Young Citizen of the Year recipient, youth worker Fostin Nshimirimana works tirelessly with youth.
He has been involved in many council initiatives including being part of the Youth Forum Committee and Youth Participation Forum, and is also a Peer Consultant for council.
Since winning the award, Mr Nshimirimana has continued to work with more youth groups around the Western Suburbs as well as extending his time to the outer suburbs.
Mr Nshimirimana acknowledged his important role in the lives of many youth and said he was cautious of his actions within the community.
“I am a young role model now,” Mr Nshimirimana said.
Mr Nshimirimana, who has a passion for music and dance, is a founding member and mentor for the RAP3021 program, where he teaches participants to write, record and perform their own hip hop music.
He also facilitates his own rap program, More Than Words, at Delahey Community Centre.
“I teach them to write music and put their personal stories into the music,” Mr Nshimirimana said.
“Most of the kids have so much in their hearts, which they never speak about,” he said.
“They free themselves through the music and move forward.”
“I see the kids grow up and change and come from nothing to something.”
Mr Nshimirimana will release a mixed tape in November called “Wrong Adoption” which reflects issues youth feel in society and echoes freedom through acceptance and sacrifice.
For more information on Mr Nshimirimana’s music, visit www.facebook.com/fofomusic
Nominations for the awards close on 30 November, to download a nomination form visit brimbank.vic.gov.au
