Western Bulldogs forward Buku Khamis has marked Cultural Diversity Week by returning to his old school, inspiring the future generation of western suburbs leaders and sharing insights on his journey to the AFL.

A graduate of Maribyrnong Secondary College class of 2018, Khamis visited year 9 students alongside Bulldogs defender Alex Keath.

The pair spoke to students about opportunities within the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation’s youth development programs, which both players have been involved in as mentors, as well as providing advice on resilience and embracing feedback.

Khamis was excited to return to his old school and share his journey with those following in his footsteps, especially students from African-Australian backgrounds.

“I get a lot of memories being back here, a lot of great times with my mates,” he said.

“I was once in their shoes so it’s very easy to relate, as a kid you look up to those who are in the position that you would want to be in one day, so I think it’s important to put on your kid’s hat, because you were once in their shoes so just being a really positive leader to help inspire."

Making the visit even more special was that it fell during Cultural Diversity Week, a weeklong celebration of diversity across the community.

“I think it’s important (to celebrate Cultural Diversity Week) because we all come from different backgrounds and it’s not just celebrating different backgrounds, it’s celebrating how we’re all different," Khamis said.

“We all have different experiences, different interests, different genders. I think it’s important to include everyone, because we can all learn from each other’s experiences and continue to grow as a community.”

The Western Bulldogs Community Foundation is the Club’s community arm that utilises the trusted brand of the football club to deliver life changing programs. You can learn more about the Foundation here.