Alice Springs local lending a helping hand to youth
AFTER a trip to his parents’ native Ethiopia in 2012, Caleb Maru quickly developed a social conscience and is now changing the lives of Alice Springs youth.
Caleb Maru reckons he never really had a social conscience growing up. But after a trip to his parents’ native Ethiopia in 2012, he quickly developed one. “I was lucky to be raised here — my parents moved to Australia the year before I was born,” says Caleb, 18. “But I didn’t realise how lucky I was until I saw how people live in Ethiopia. It was a massive eye opener.”
Returning to his hometown of Alice Springs, CommBank’s Australian of the Day – which is an initiative that celebrates everyday Australians — threw himself into helping anyone in need. Last year he was named the Young Centralian Citizen of the Year in recognition of his outreach initiative, The Aware Project. And today he’s named CommBank’s Australian of the Day for raising the bar in his community and helping others.
An online and social media platform, The Aware Project provides a space where young Central Australians can discuss issues ranging from mental health and racism to poverty and homelessness. “These are huge problem in the deserts and towns and often there are not many shoulders to lean on,” says Caleb. “The project tries to help address that.”
After spending his gap year working as Alice Springs Town Council’s Youth Services Officer, Caleb is now pursuing legal studies in 2016. “I have an uncle in Ethiopia who is a lawyer and I was inspired by the work he does for the UN, helping people,” he says. “I was like, ‘That’s exactly what I want to do.’”
There are plenty of unsung people who walk among us. Now CommBank – together with News Corp Australia – have partnered together in a program simply call Australian of the Day. The initiative is there to recognise those who fly under the radar but who do incredible things which inspire us all. Go to theaustralianoftheday.com.auwebsite to read their amazing stories.
Originally published as Alice Springs local lending a helping hand to youth
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