Newcastle Jets are calling on supporters to get behind local 15-year-old refugee Gilbert Harabakunzi’s ‘Put The Boot In’ initiative at this Saturday’s #F3Derby.
Gilbert, who attends Newcastle High School, attended Newcastle Jets training on Thursday to promote his initiative, which is being supported by Newcastle City Council Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, as well as Gosford City Council Mayor Lawrie McKinna.
Nelmes and McKinna have assisted Gilbert, as well as Julie Stevens who is the Program Manager of Youth Frontiers – a State Government funded youth mentoring program which focuses on helping young adults engage with their communities – to establish a drive in which Gilbert will collect old football boots outside the western entrance at Saturday’s match.
Gilbert will also collect boots at the second #F3Derby of the season in Gosford in late February, before having them shipped to communities in Tanzania and outback Australia.
A host of Newcastle Jets players made the first donations to Gilbert’s drive, many passing on a pair of used boots to be sent to passionate football players in less fortunate areas of Tanzania and Australia.
Mayors Nelmes and McKinna hope that both sets of supporters will get behind Gilbert’s ‘Put The Boot In’ initiative at this weekend’s match – Nelmes hoping Jets supporters contribute more boots on behalf of her region, McKinna the opposite.
To donate a pair of football boots to Gilbert’s initiative, please visit him outside the Western Entrance of Hunter Stadium from 4:15pm until kick-off at this Saturday’s #F3Derby.
