Doing good.

Youth run. Youth owned. Youth focused. Strong Brother Strong Sister (SBSS) is a space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth and their families to access support, and connect to culture and identity. Founded in 2017 by Cormach Evans, a proud Yorta Yorta man, SBSS is an Aboriginal owned and led organisation, servicing Geelong and the greater Wadawurrung area.

As the Cotton On Foundation’s newest partnership, we’re so excited to be supporting the team at SBSS. Their passion and dedication is inspiring. Through organising youth groups, mentoring and counselling, they’re breaking down barriers facing young people today, advocating for the needs of their community and amplifying the voices of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

No two days at SBSS are the same. Youth group activities range from surfing, rock climbing and sports, to traditional craft-making, painting and weaving. Guided by the interests of the group, these activities are all about deepening the connection with Country, and giving young people a chance to explore their identity by fostering their creativity, wellbeing and sense of community.

Mentors at SBSS are able to provide one-on-one support, meeting young people at any stage of their lives. These sessions are so important, as they recognise that everyone is on a different journey in their relationship with identity and culture. From getting a job to getting out on Country, these sessions are guided by the individual’s needs. Family support programs are also available to help create a strong support network around each young person, in every area of their lives.

“It’s understanding that each individual does have a very different cultural journey to the next. Some are really strongly connected and have strong foundations and strong knowledge of who they are and who their community is, and then you have other young people that haven’t got those connections and haven’t got those understandings. By working at each individual's journey we can ensure we create a strong connection to culture which creates a strong identity and sense of belonging.”

To celebrate NAIDOC Week 2021, our featured artwork is by Bek Lasky, a proud Wakaya woman and Ruby Evans, a proud Yorta Yorta woman. They are the co-founders of Soul Sister Co., an Aboriginal owned and led apparel company. Both are also part of the Strong Brother Strong Sister team, where Bek is a board member and Ruby is a youth mentor.

You’re making a difference with every Cotton On Foundation purchase. 100% of proceeds go towards empowering youth through quality education and wellbeing projects.