Logan is being included in a program which asks adults to “give back” to their communities by mentoring a young person.
Raise Foundation is a national program, but is pinpointing Logan as an area where people can make a difference in a young person’s life.
Founder and CEO of the foundation Vicki Condon said with the difficulties of the past several years, there had never been a more important time to think about volunteering.
“We know many of young people in Logan City are experiencing an increasing number of challenges that impact their wellbeing, yet many are unable to access a caring, independent and trusted adult to talk to – someone that shows up each week just for them,” she said.
“With our industry leading training we can equip anyone from the community to become a youth mentor, so we’re asking anyone interested to consider signing up and helping address this urgent social need.”
This year the focus is on supporting regional areas where mentors are still needed to ensure the program can go ahead. Â
Business manager “Jon” started as a program mentor with a boy, aged 13, who was struggling with confidence and trust in relationships.
“The main impact I noticed was the confidence he gained in interacting with adults and even starting to see it as a positive and fun thing – all incredible steps for someone who sadly suffered great personal loss and trauma throughout his childhood,” he said.
“It made me feel really good that I could help a young person in a formative part of their lives. The biggest learning for me was, once I’d committed to it, how easy it was to make a positive contribution to a young person’s life.
“It’s so humbling and fulfilling and I’d encourage anyone considering becoming a mentor to have a go.”
Raise measures the impact of the programs and has seen the young people who graduate grow in resilience, sense of belonging and hope for the future.
Registrations close February 24 to raise.org.au.
