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Empowering Bengali youth through culture, language and career pathways
For many young people in Melbourne’s growing Bengali community, the path to employment and belonging begins with more than just education. It starts with cultural connection, confidence, and community support. That’s the vision behind Wollert Community Pathshala Incorporated (WCP), a not-for-profit organisation based in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
A cultural foundation for future success
WCP’s mission is to help young people embrace their Bengali heritage while gaining the skills they need to thrive in a multicultural Australia. Through its Bengali Language Education Program, students learn to read, write, and speak Bangla while building identity, confidence, and a sense of belonging.
The program began with 16 students and 5 teachers and has grown steadily. It offers a curriculum that blends language learning with cultural storytelling, music, and community values. For many families, it is the first time their children have had access to structured Bangla education in a local setting.
With support from CVGT Employment’s 2024 Community Grants program, WCP is now expanding its educational offerings to include employability skills such as communication, financial literacy, and leadership training. The funding is helping WCP develop an enhanced curriculum tailored to the needs of Bengali and multicultural youth, while also introducing career-focused workshops that address cultural and linguistic barriers in education and employment. The grant funding is also enabling WCP to provide essential resources, materials, and professional facilitators to ensure the success of this expanded program.
This initiative aligns with CVGT’s “Youth-Focused Career Supports” 2024 Community Grants theme by tackling key challenges that young people face in accessing meaningful career pathways. By equipping youth with strong cultural and language foundations alongside practical career skills, WCP is helping them build confidence and better integrate into the broader workforce.
Career Fair opens doors for youth
In June 2025, WCP hosted the Community & Youth Career Fair at the Kirrip Community Centre with support from CVGT Employment’s 2024 Community Grants program. The event brought together professionals from fields such as education, engineering, law enforcement, and hospitality. Young people had the chance to explore career options, ask questions, and build networks.
The fair was part of WCP’s broader initiative to integrate employability skills including communication, financial literacy, and leadership into its educational offerings. These efforts are designed to address the unique challenges faced by Bengali and multicultural youth such as language barriers, limited access to career guidance, and cultural disconnects in mainstream education.
Strengthening community through partnership
WCP is working to expand its collaboration with CVGT Employment with plans for joint workshops on resume writing, interview preparation, and job-readiness training. These initiatives will complement WCP’s language and cultural programs and create a holistic support system for youth navigating their future careers.
By combining cultural education with practical career support, WCP is helping young people from the Bengali community build brighter futures. These futures are grounded in identity, strengthened by skills, and supported by community.
CVGT Employment’s 2024 Community Grants program
Our 2024 Community Grants program is specifically focused on youth career support.
We believe that investing in our young people today, creates a brighter and more resilient community tomorrow.
Learn more about our 2024 Community Grant program and recipients here.