Being young it's hard enough dealing with the usual issues of school, family, and friends.  But imagine being sixteen and having experienced the horrors of war; having had to flee your home country and deal with the heartache of many of your family members being dead, traumatised, or living far away. Imagine having to deal with people starring at you all the time because you look different and always being asked where you come from before you are asked your name. Imagine being abused and discriminated against because of the colour of your skin, or the country of your birth?

This is the experience of many young people who have come to Australia and other western countries around the world as Refugees and Asylum Seekers.

I grew up in the western suburbs of Melbourne, which has a high population of Refugee and culturally diverse young people. I was brought up to see our differences as something that makes us unique and interesting. I have seen the good and bad in all people and have learned that although we may have different traditions, religions, customs, and languages, people have a common thread that unites them - our humanity - even though we may not always see it.

What I have also learned through my life experiences and my work as a youth worker and dancer is that what makes people connect on an equal and genuine level more than anything else - no matter what our background - is the process of being creative.

Creating is the process of being in the moment and letting go of your ego. It's expressing who you are and freeing your mind to explore new territory in a way that inspires and motivates a human being to their core. I know that dance is what made me the person I am today, and without it I don't think I would have ever had the motivation or the strength to be my best and live my dream. I have seen so many people throughout my lifetime find the exact same fire in their bellies through all sorts of art forms, from Graffiti, to Rap, to Capoeira. This has taught me that it is not the art itself but the process of being creative that has the power to connect, and to focus our minds on who we are and what it is we want to achieve.

For young people, particularly those from Refugee and culturally diverse backgrounds, Hip Hop culture is a powerful tool for connection and self-exploration, as it provides the space for movement and expression through language, rhythm, and visual interpretation in a ways that are familiar, cool, and rooted in cultural traditions that they identify with. This knowledge and firsthand experience of the creative process and sharing of art, music, and dance, was my motivation behind forming Jungle City MASSIVE.

Jungle City MASSIVE is a community or a 'massive' of creative people who see music and culture as the most powerful tools for change in our community. We are a collective of young people from diverse backgrounds growing up in the west, and inspiring professional Hip Hop and performing artists and designers based all over Melbourne. As a community we hold events, workshops, and create every opportunity we can to celebrate and participate. Anyone who shares our love for music and culture for the purpose of empowering our community is welcome to be part of the MASSIVE, and if you feel what we do then you pretty much already are.  

Cat Sweeney is founder of Jungle City MASSIVE and in 2009 was selected as a Young Social Pioneer by the Foundation for Young Australians, a member of the YouthActionNet® global network. She can be reached at: junglecity@live.com.au or join Jungle City MASSIVE's Facebook page.