Profile – Aleksei Bondarenko-Edwards

Youth Initiative AWARD 2015

Every year, the Ian De La Rue Youth Initiative Award recognises the contribution young people make to our community.  The activities and passions of Award recipients can be varied, and all help to make our community better and stronger. Congratulations Aleksei!

Aleksei is a local champion for affordable health and wellbeing. Through his work at the Yarra Centre, he has created positive networks with community health practitioners, and mental health support networks and runs programs to engage with young adults in the local community. He has youthful energy and his skills in marketing/social media have provided new perspectives in connecting his community. He has supported ‘Community Bank Warburton Up and Running’ to showcase Warburton as a place of recreation and encourage the community to exercise. Aleksei is completing his Masters in Community Development.

Lesley says: ‘Aleksei is well connected in our community. He is enthusiastic, positive and motivated to be inclusive of people from culturally diverse backgrounds and is responsive to the needs of those experiencing disadvantage.’