Laverton Youth Foundation Update April 2010
The Youth Foundations project supported by the Altona, Laverton/Altona Meadows and Point Cook Community Bank branches has recently provided a number of young people with an opportunity to contribute to the community and make a difference.
A project that has recently been successful in receiving a grant is the “Unheard Voices of HIV” group. This project was initiated by eight Year 10 students who attend the Laverton P-12 College. They felt there existed a gap in the information being provided to young people around prevention of HIV and how young people can make informed choices concerning their health and wellbeing. The students have been meeting together every week to plan their project, design a logo, develop aims and objectives and decide how best to deliver their message. The Facilitator of Youth Foundation, Fiona Williams and Health Promotions Nurse, Alison Webb held a workshop for this group on leadership skills, public speaking and had guest speakers present on sexual health issues.
From this workshop the group have decided to develop a peer education strategy based on a performance they will take to schools in the Hobson’s Bay region. They are working under the guidance of a professional performance artist and will provide handouts and posters to young people to raise awareness and provide youth friendly information. The project highlights the potential of young people to develop their own ideas, work together as a group, learn leadership, advocacy and project management skills and contribute to their local community.
Youth Foundations provides young people with an opportunity to achieve tangible outcomes from being involved in their own initiated and led projects. In 2009 a group of young men at Laverton P-12 College successfully ran a street art workshop at the school as a result of a Youth Foundations grant. The students mentored younger students and produced a number of art works under the instruction of a professional artist, Justin Tumilaar. As a follow up to this project, the mentors were recently asked to paint a wall at a dance studio in Geelong. The young men volunteered two days during the school holidays and worked very hard to create an amazing image on the wall. The Director of the studio, Fiona Luca was very happy with the result and it was observed how well the young people worked together to develop a design, produce the work and work in cooperation with the studio. These young people were extremely proud of their art work and were excited to have had the opportunity to work on this project.
The Youth Foundations project is currently working towards sustainability to ensure more young people have the opportunity to shine through their own projects. The project was initially set up through the Victorian Government Office for Youth in partnership with Bendigo Community Banks. Through the support of Laverton Community Renewal Centre the project was given an extension of funding through the Department of Planning and Community Development to develop a business case for sustainability.
Fiona Williams
Facilitator
Youth Foundations
Hobsons Bay Community Financial Services committment to the local youth.
- Photo taken at the launch of the Laverton Youth Foundation 2006
Hobsons Bay Community Financial Services Ltd has committed up to $125,000.00 over four years to establish the local Laverton arm of the Youth Foundation Victoria.
The project gives young people the chance to help grow their own communities and their prospects. As part of this unique State Government and Bendigo Bank Ltd project, young people from the Laverton community have formed a local group to determine the needs of their community. With mentoring from local leaders, the group has undertaken fundraising and grant-making to help other local young people.
The project has been very successful to date and has assisted with positioning the Laverton/Altona Meadows, Altona and Point Cook Community Bank® branches as valued community partners.
Our company has committed $125,000.00 over four years to establish the Laverton Youth Foundation as a strategy to engage and assist local youth.
The project gives young people the chance to help grow their own Communities and their prospects. As part of this unique State Government and Bendigo Bank project, young people from the Laverton Community have formed a local group to determine the needs of their community. With mentoring from local leaders, the group has undertaken fundraising and grant-making to help other local young people.
The local group of diverse young people will be supported by mentors to:
• Research their community
• Manage and develop a pool of funds
• Assess and participate in making grants for charitable purposes for the benefit of young people
• Link to a state-wide network of the Victorian Youth Foundation and a global network of similar organizations
The young people will build skills such as:
• Working in leadership and decision-making roles
• Developing networking and community planning skills
• Volunteering based on stronger community connections
• Project management
• Communication and marketing; and
• Developing the attitudes and values that will enable them to effectively contribute to their communities.
Additionally our company was one of the first community banks to introduce student banking in a worth while and sustainable way providing the local youth with the saving and banking philosophy which they can follow through into their adult years.
The Laverton Youth Foundation welcomes local youth to become involved in this project. For more information contact us.
Youth Motorbike initiative
The two 14 year olds who serve on the Youth Foundations Victoria Committee are so passionate about learning more about their beloved machines that they decided to approach their local Youth Resource Officer at the Altona North Police Station, Senior Constable, Scott Sutton about an idea they had.
That idea was to tap into youth-led project funded provided by their local Community Bank Branch - Laverton - of Bendigo Bank and the Hobsons Bay Council, and involved approaching a motorcycle manufacturer to provide a workshop on bike safety, maintenance and tips on where to ride.
According to Alex and Jack, the idea came about because a lot of kids in their area are a bit confused about safe places to ride as well as how to look after their own bike.
"We know that heaps of kids have been riding their bikes in parks around Laverton because they cannot get to the track," Alex said.
"This is dangerous for the public and destroys our environment. Our project aims to help educate young people about riding safely."
After a tour of HART's new facility at Somerton including their recently developed mini bike and off road track, road circuit, training rooms, showroom and workshop, the boys were able to ask questions of Honda's veteran staff including Honda Australia's Manager of Engineering Compliance, Greg Snart and HART Victoria Manager, Grant Carr."Kids love their motor bikes and always will. Instead of trying to deter them from riding or just getting them a motorbike and not worrying about teaching them to ride, let's help them to understand how they can best protect themselves, ride legally and make it a fun experience for everyone."
"Kids love their motor bikes and always will. Instead of trying to deter them from riding or just getting them a motorbike and not worrying about teaching them to ride, let's help them to understand how they can best protect themselves, ride legally and make it a fun experience for everyone."
PC Scott Sutton, whose role is to work with kids in his area to improve all aspects of safety agreed with the message the program is sending.
"I have been on the Youth Foundations Victoria Laverton Committee since its inception and now we are really seeing some exciting projects," he said.
"What Alex and Jack have done is to identify an issue - recreational motorbike riding - and then develop this project with the support of Facilitator Fiona Williams."
"These boys are the leaders and role models in the community and hopefully other young people around Laverton will follow their lead and ride their motorbikes in a safe and lawful manner."
"The next step will be supporting them to raise funds for a trailer so they can get their bikes to the track in Laverton North."
"Our thanks go to Grant CARR at HART and Honda, for supporting this community initiative."
Well done Fiona and the Laverton YPAC - great example of how to make a good idea into a funded project!!!
