Support for Hindi language classes recognised with 'Hero' award
Leadership of an initiative to introduce Hindi language classes for school children has earned CQUniversity senior lecturer Dr Ritesh Chugh a 'Lalor Hero Community Volunteer Award'.
The award was instituted by Federal Member for Lalor Joanne Ryan to recognise volunteers "who are the backbone of a diverse and vibrant community".
Dr Chugh's work on the language classes project, including lobbying the Victorian School of Languages, was lauded by the Wyndham City community, thanks to its focus on diversity and inclusion.
"The introduction of Hindi for school children will help to create and encourage a bilingual identity, and develop stronger personal inter and intra-community relationships too," he says.
This Western Suburban Indian Languages (WSIL) group initiative is a strong demonstration of one of the many ways in which CQUniversity staff engage with the wider community nationally and give back via volunteering.
Dr Chugh says that, as India is becoming a leading world economy, the ability to communicate in one of the national languages should be a great benefit.
""I strongly feel that learning Hindi will have many advantages; whether it is to connect our children to their roots, develop proficiency in their heritage language or further a deep bond with Multicultural Australia,'' Dr Chugh said.
"I believe the interest in learning Hindi will only grow with the burgeoning population of people from Indian origin living in Melbourne.
"People from non-Hindi speaking backgrounds may also be motivated to learn the language out of interest in the culture, for better business communication, job prospects or if they are planning to travel to India."
Dr Chugh is a senior lecturer in ICT, based at CQUniversity Melbourne.
More details are available via Indian Link website.
