Laverton Youth Foundation
Welcome to 2011 …a year to motivate young people to take action that will strengthen our local community. My name is Erin Young and I am the new Youth Foundations Facilitator. I am a country girl at heart who enjoys working with young people. I am passionate about inspiring young people to make a difference in their schools and local communities and in my spare time I run my own organisation called REAL Girl Productions. REAL’s mission is to empower young women to achieve their potential. In 2011 Youth Foundations will work with students at the Visy Link Centre and student leaders from Laverton P-12 College. We will also work to engage a diverse range of young people through creative mediums that provide opportunity for individuals to develop their skills, voice their opinions and build their networks within their local community. The Visy Link Centre student’s have called themselves ‘Inspiration of VISY’ and have developed a mission statement and values on which they will act and respond.
Our Mission:
‘Making a Difference in Our Community through Educating and Learning’
Our Values:
Freedom
Loyalty
Education
Determination
Power
Accomplishment
Creativity
Optimism &
Love
Inspiration of VISY has also identified several challenges for young people living in Laverton and surrounding areas that include;
-Bullying
-Drug, alcohol and sex education
-Depression
-Street safety &
-Alternative education avenues for young people that drop out of school.
Inspiration of VISY will be working towards developing project plans around the issues identified above, that we can implement in the local community.
Erin Young
Youth Foundations Facilitator - Laverton
Mobile: 0410 041 235
Email: erin@lavertoncommunitycentre.com
‘It’s people like you that kids like me that help us make a name for ourselves.’
- John Stroud, 16 years, VISY Cares Link Centre
Just a quick update;
On Tuesday 20th September Youth Foundations took VISY to the newly opened UCAN Café at Altona North Library. The students heard from guest speaker Michelle Bonney, who works for the Victorian Education Department and also runs her own non for profit dance company.
VISY young people have been busy working on the BY YOURSELF publication, each young person from the Centre will be contributing to the magazine, and we have already conducted several interviews. The publication will also include the artworks and words of young people from across Hobson’s Bay and other parts of Victoria. The magazine will be launched in late-November and 2,500 copies will be distributed to young people.
I facilitated the first of several workshops with Kacie and Matt from Altona P-9 College who has requested Youth Foundations to support the pair to organise and facilitate their own Leadership Forum on Friday 18th of November.
To celebrate the achievements of young people who have been involved with Youth Foundations throughout 2011, the young people from VISY will be coordinating a morning tea, for supporters, young people and community members. Please save the date, invitations will be sent out very shortly!
Date: Friday 25th November
Time: 10.30 – 12.00pm
Location: Laverton P-12 College
I participated in a planning Forum in late September that bought together all the facilitators from across the state, a second Forum was held the following week for LPG Members and Lead Agencies in which Michael and John participated. The outcomes of both Forums will be discussed at our next meeting.
5 applicants have been successful in receiving funds, the money will be distributed shortly and successful applicants will be recognised and awarded at the FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS Morning Tea.
Youth Foundations has also submitted several grant applications to run projects next year for young people in the area. If you hear of any opportunities for extra funding/grant applications please let me know – as the Laverton Community Centre recently gained DGR status.
Date: Monday 24th October
Time: 3.00 – 4.00pm
Location: Laverton Community Renewal Centre