ONE OF BLACKTOWN ’ S FINEST ... by Greg Martin
As is my want as I drive home after visiting subjects for interviews , I ponder .
And ponder and ponder .
I ponder about how I enjoyed the interview ( I always do !), contemplate whether I can get through the green
That ’ s our boy ! Solomone Fotu with two admirers - his cherished mentors at Rap 4 Change , Ned Narouz and Free Isaia . light before it turns amber , muse if we ’ ll ever have a Federal ICAC but generally I compose , up in the grey matter , what will be the lead paragraph in the story .
But most of the way home from interviewing this 18-year-old gentle giant at the St Clair home of his mentor , Ned Narouz , all I could do was pretend I was a hot rapper and chanted a short rap ( is that what they call rap songs ?) Solomone had earlier sung for me . “ We bleed the same We breath the same Let ’ s unite as one .” Solomone is a volunteer mentor for Rap 4 Change , a small-scale charity providing leadership , mentoring , sports and music programs that assist disengaged and at-risk youth .
This young man was heading for trouble , perhaps injury in a “ blue ” or a stint in the clink until Ned Narouz steered him onto a path which Solomone calls “ redemption ”.
Ned spent time on the wrong side of the bars in prison as a juvenile before getting his life back on track by finding a job and a boss who was an inspirational mentor .
Life was good for Ned Narouz – he saved up to buy his own home , life brought him joy and it was a joy he wanted others in our community to experience .
He created Rap 4 Change in 2016 – he is the CEO , Free Isaia is his right-hand woman and they are strongly supported by 15 passionate and hard-working mentoring volunteers .
“ We create pathways for education and employment opportunities , provide rehabilitation programs to assist youth who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol , self-harm and mental health ,” Ned explained .
Rap 4 Change also aids people who are financially disadvantaged , homeless , unemployed , victims of violent crimes and people with disabilities .
“ Solomone and the rest of the team are able to build a good connection with the young people and help educate them on life skills and how to achieve success the right way ,” Ned said .
Solomone came under Ned ’ s radar two years ago when one of the young fella ’ s cousins asked him to contact Solomone and try and steer him away from wrong onto the right path .
“ I was hanging around with the wrong sort of people ,” Solomone explained .
“ I wasn ’ t doing any mischief but they were and I suppose it was a matter of time before I got caught up in their activities .
“ Ned came along at the right time and thanks to him I decided to finish my HSC at Plumpton High and since graduating , through his contacts at the Department of Education , he helped me secure a teacher ’ s aid position at Colyton Public School .
“ I absolutely love the job and really missed working with the children during the recent long lockdown .
“ I help the pupils with their reading , writing and maths but I especially enjoy just listening to them and just engaging with those who are having learning difficulties .
“ No matter what age you are it is
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6 ISSUE 08 // NOVEMBER 2021 theindependentmagazine . com . au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT