By Esther Lauaki
A Mt Atkinson-based mentoring program to help get kids from migrant and refugee backgrounds on track for a bright future has received a boost.
The Positive Mentoring Program is run by charity Edmund Rice Services and provides guidance and leadership training for young people aged between 12 and 15. It will benefit from a $60,000 state government grant over the next two years.
The funding will mean 80 more boys and girls can join the program, which includes structured activities for young people experiencing difficulties at school or in their community.
Kororoit MP Marlene Kairouz announced the funding last Wednesday and helped present families with refurbished bikes donated by the justice department’s west metro team.
“The bikes were presented to these families from our local communities for them to use at home and on the Mt Atkinson Community Centre’s popular and recently extended 12km of mountain bike tracks,” Ms Kairouz said on a visit to the area. Team building activities, group projects and activities such as horsemanship, mountain bike riding, bushwalking and art teach teamwork, assertiveness and patience.
Edmund Rice Services chief executive Mark Monahan said about 1000 children have taken part in programs at the Mt Atkinson Community Centre in the past year.
A range of programs are run at the centre for young people from across Melbourne’s western suburbs including leadership training and outdoor activities including orienteering, archery and mountain bike riding.
