‘We are Jamma’: How a South Sudanese community program found its name.
For the past seven years, they have been known by an acronym, a practical name that spoke to their structure but not to their purpose. The Community Support Groups (CSGs) in Melbourne’s west and southeast have long been doing the vital, important work of connecting South Sudanese young people to education, employment, and their own heritage. But the name itself “CSG” didn’t quite tell that story.
In February, that program finally got its name.
In a series of vibrant, energetic and emotional celebrations in Melton and Dandenong, the CSGs officially became Jamma. Moving forward, this is what they will call themselves: Jamma. The name, put forward by a young person as part of a competition and chosen by the community, is a word that captures the very essence of their mission: unity, community, gathering, and belonging.
The journey to this defining moment began two years ago, with a question posed to the community. The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY), which auspices the groups, recognised that the CSG had outgrown its acronym. It needed a name that united people and reflected the vibrancy and strength of the South Sudanese community it served. The work, after all, was community-led – ever evolving and responding to locally identified needs. It needed a name that spoke to the community.
“We ran a competition, calling on our young people to submit names that represented who we are,” said Kenyatta Dei Wal, Program Manager. The winning entry, Jamma, came from a young person in the southeast.
“The fact that this name came from a young person is deeply meaningful. It reflects exactly who we are and who we are existing for.”
From there, a visual identity was co-designed, drawing inspiration from artwork submitted by young people. The new logo incorporates the bold colours and guiding style of the South Sudanese flag, a symbol of hope, direction, and identity, while maintaining a subtle connection to its parent organisation, CMY. This new identity was intended to be “a declaration of who we are as a people.”
A celebration of unity and the work that continues
The result of this two-year journey was a pair of events designed not just to unveil a name, but to formally introduce Jamma to the community and build momentum for the work that continues every day. From now on, the groups working across Melton, Brimbank, Dandenong, Casey, and Cardinia will be known collectively as Jamma.
The first event was held at Windmill Gardens in Melton on 12 February, a venue with a special place in the hearts of locals. The second celebration took over Dunya Function Centre in Dandenong on 26 February. Both were carefully planned as cultural celebrations, blending the formalities of a new chapter with the excitement of a shared identity, and with a clear message that the work of supporting young people and families is not concluding, but entering a new phase.
Minister for Youth, the Hon. Natalie Suleyman, a “proud Westie” herself, attended both events, a testament to the Victorian Government’s continued investment in the Community Support Group model that gave rise to Jamma. “Since they were established nearly ten years ago, the CSG has been an absolute force for good in our suburbs and of course, in our communities,” Minister Suleyman said in Melton. “They’re always there when it matters most.”
“This kind of support transforms communities, and it transforms lives.”
Carmel Guerra OAM, CEO of CMY, reflected on the partnership’s roots, noting that the groups were born from conversations with community leaders over a decade ago, conversations that have never stopped.
“This is a defining moment of unity, community and connection. It is a cause for celebration.”
But it was the voices of the community that brought the room to its feet. In Melton, MCs Michael Apout and Akec Mac guided the night, which featured an energised dance troupe and real stories from young people like Mayiik Awer and Asha Afogi, stories that underscored the daily, ongoing impact of the work. In Dandenong, MC Emmanuel Jakwot set the tone, opening with a prayer from Reverend Deacon George before transitioning to a cultural performance by singer The OGB.
Later in the evening, the room rose as the Bul Nueri dance troupe took the stage, their rhythm and energy a reminder of the cultural pride that Jamma hopes to nurture. The crowd, a mix of government officials, elders, families, and the young people who are the heart of the initiative, rose to their feet, dancing and celebrating together, testament to the community bonds that the work continues to build.
A new name, the same commitment
The name change marks a permanent shift, but the work itself remains as constant as ever. What was once referred to as “the CSG” will now be known simply as Jamma, a deliberate move to differentiate the initiative from other community support groups and to forge a singular, recognisable, community-owned identity.
For Mr Dei Wal, who has been a central figure in the community for years, the launch was a deeply personal milestone, but also just the latest chapter in a story that continues to be written. Reflecting on what Jamma means to him, he said:
“For me personally, it means unity. It means community. It means gathering, togetherness, and belonging. It reminds me that no one succeeds alone. When community leads, real change happens.”
Youth Reference Group member, Josephina Tut, shared her own experiences of the program at the Dandenong event, saying: “Watching young people walk into these spaces, unsure and hesitant, but walking out empowered, is the best feeling. I’ve learnt how important it is for young people to be seen, heard and valued. It has taken my passion for young people and turned it into purpose.”
“When young people feel confident enough to step forward and inspire others, then other young people will do it too. It has not just been a program, it has been a community. It has been a platform to grow.”
The Jamma events symbolised a new beginning, a public celebration of a shared identity forged by the community, for the community, and a promise that the work they have been doing for years will continue with renewed purpose. As the final goodbyes were said and the event decorations were packed away, the name Jamma, meaning unity, gathering, and belonging, was no longer a suggestion. It was a shared commitment, embedded through celebration with the community it represents.
Jamma is auspiced by CMY and supported by the Victorian Government.