CHILDREN from a variety of backgrounds received a taste of AFL football and the chance to meet West Coast player Nic Naitanui during a multicultural carnival at Lightning Park this week.

The carnival was one of two organised as part of a Community Participation initiative with both the West Australian Football Commission and Department of Sport and Recreation. The first was held at EFTel Oval on Monday, March 22 and the second at Lightning Park on Wednesday, March 24.

A total of 220 and 280 children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds attended each carnival, with South Fremantle premiership player Paul Mugambwa attending on the Monday and Naitanui lending a hand on the Wednesday, both as multicultural rolemodels.

EFTel Oval will be a-buzz with multicultural activity on Monday, March 22 when more than 200 school students participate in the AFL Multicultural Carnival ‘South of the River’.

Two days later, on March 24, 200 School children will head to Lightning Park in Noranda for the AFL Multicultural Carnival ‘North of the River’.

Organised as part of a Community Participation initiative with both the West Australian Football Commission and Department of Sport and Recreation, the carnival will see 400+ multicultural youth participate in modified football games and activities.

The carnival, which commences at 10am, will also be attended by Paul Mugambwe (South Fremantle – South of the River) & Nic Naitinui (West Coast Eagles – North of the River).

The Edmund Rice Centre in Mirrabooka is looking for young migrants and refugees aged 13 - 18 years to join a new AFL football team – the Edmund Rice Centre Lions.

The team will consist wholly of people who have come to Australia from another country to live, and will train for six weeks before playing a match against a local football team from the Subiaco Football District on Sunday 11 April 2010.

The purpose of the Carnival is to expose multicultural children to AFL football in a fun & safe environment, achieve numeracy and literacy outcomes & ultimately creating a link from school participation to local football clubs.  The day will consist of ‘grid game’ football matches & AFL clinics to enhance student skills and knowledge around our great game.

Russell Higgins will be joining the WAFC Education Team in 2010 to continue the terrific work he has been doing in the multicultural area in the South Fremantle, East Fremantle, East Perth and Perth Districts.

Russell will now be coordinating Multicultural Football Programs for the entire state and he is looking forward to expanding these fantastic opportunities for culturally and linguistically diverse students.