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APPLAUSE
MALE: I would just like to publicly thank each and every one
of our special guests, ambassadors and those involved with the Football United program
but also the tour the international tour that Monique Coleman is doing.
It is something very, very special and we are very fortunate to be part of it.
So thank you very much.
APPLAUSE
FEMALE: I work in the Human Rights Commission.
Human rights are things - we don't have to earn them, kids.
We have them because we're human.
So right to education is a really important right, and that's the work that we do
at the Human Rights Commission.
We try to make sure that everyone in Australia is treated equally, irrespective of what nationality,
what ethnicity, what *** orientation, whether they're boys or girls,
whether they're old or young.
Our job is to make sure that everyone is treated equally, and that's something that you can
very much help us with.
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MONIQUE COLEMAN: You know, we don't really have that much time so I'm just going
to jump right in.
A lot of times when I talk to young people, I find that one thing that young people aspire to do
or to be is famous.
Being famous is not very hard, at all.
Having influence is very different.
Having the ability to impact another person's life because of the journey that you've decided to take,
making way for another human being because of the choices that you've made and
the responsibility that you know you hold within you, that's what's important.
The things that you're attracted to, the things that you love,
the things that move you and shake you to the core, the things that upset you more than anything,
whether it be the stereotypes that people make about the place that you're from,
the fact that sometimes you don't feel that you're respected the way that other people are respected,
all of those things, those things you get to actually stand on the shoulders
of the people that came before you. This is my passion.
My passion truly is about you because when I look at our world, though it is a very beautiful place,
I know that the answer to so many of our problems lies within you.
So we cannot allow the things like self esteem and bullying and not opening our eyes
to the opportunities that we have today,
the opportunities that we have for programs like this today.
So that's my passion.
SAMAH HADID: In speaking of what it was that drove me
to youth development and youth empowerment, I think it was just growing up in Western Sydney.
And I went to Bankstown Girls High School - I'm from Bankstown, I still live there - and I think it was
coming from a community that, unfortunately, wasn't respected and was stereotyped, and I think,
you know, trying to dispel those stereotypes and prove myself to society is what drove me.
You're all important assets and it's important to dream bigger.
Yes, Western Sydney is an amazing community and we have amazing things
to offer our national community but there's bigger and better opportunities out there.
There are also other young people in our country that are marginalised and,
unfortunately, are disadvantaged and we need to connect up as a youth group,
as a youth community, to share those stories together, but I really,
really urge you all to not be so insecure about making a difference because you
all have something to contribute and you all have a voice and I really,
really hope that you can share that.
So thank you.
APPLAUSE