On Saturday 28 February, eight council members and I from the Geelong Youth Council were lucky enough to participate as volunteers at Cultura’s annual Pako Festa for 2026. During this wonderful opportunity we conducted surveys to evaluate the event’s impact, its effects on cultural diversity and inclusion and the overall experience for those who attended, acting as key data analysts for the continuation of Pako Festa in future years. Not only was I able to contribute to the development of Pako Festa, but I also had the chance to help people from all cultures feel more included. Interacting with so many different people and hearing their stories was incredibly rewarding; those meaningful conversations helped me build stronger bonds and feel much more connected to the wider Geelong community.
A specific interaction with an interviewee that stuck with me in particular was with a lovely lady who shared her experiences over the years at Pako Festa. She detailed how she has experienced first-hand the development of diversity and has noticed the increase in cultural value amongst more and more people since she was a child. This prompted me to reflect upon how establishing and executing initiatives, such as Pako Festa, can foster collective understanding and solidarity, where real, deep connections can form between various cultures and peoples. I realised that unity doesn’t require us to be the same, but rather it flourishes through embracing, celebrating and respecting one another’s differences, thus becoming a source of communal strength and unity.
Overall, the ability to be part of this event was a rewarding and enlightening experience that I am grateful to have been offered by Cultura and the Geelong Youth Council. I am excited to see what Cultura has to offer at next year’s Pako Festa and am equally excited to continue contributing more to the community through such service.
