IT MAY seem like the holiday period drags on for a while, but the team at The Youthie (Tamworth Regional Youth Centre) are making sure no time is wasted these holidays.
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The Youthie is facilitating volunteering experiences with local organisations as part of its holiday program, for the first time.
While the Coledale drop-in centre is putting on a whole gamut of free activities for teenagers during the holidays, the opportunity to volunteer has proved to be one of the most popular with the kids.
Team Leader of youth services at the centre, Sammy Bowen, said the idea to offer volunteer opportunities was sparked by the kids.
“It is a new initiative, it’s just to promote what services are out there with opportunities for young people,” Ms Bowen said.
“There could be an opportunity to spark a bit of interest for employment or training in the community.
“So far, it’s been quite popular.”
It’s the first time The Youthie has offered volunteering option, which grew from seeds planted at the “glamour day” last year.
“Because we got a lot of questions from young people, how do I get in to that field? what sort of things do they do? It sort of sparked the discussion of what can we explore in the employment realm,” she told The Leader.
Ms Bowen said the kids will volunteer at Nazareth House and Heaven Can Wait animal shelter.
“Everything has to come from [the youth] and we just develop their ideas,” she said.
“It all has to come from them, though, because it just doesn’t work otherwise.”
The centre is already looking to build on the program in to the future.
“It’s a low-cost activity, so it’s something that is sustainable for a long time,” Ms Bowen said.
“As long as there are other organisations on board.”
Ms Bowen said the most positive thing is seeing young people increase their knowledge through The Youthie’s programs.
“It’s about showing alternate methods of education and getting job ready,” she said. “And [it gives] a boost to confidence,they’ve got higher self-esteem and greater sense of self-worth, when they know there is a future out there.”
- More photos P19