June July 2011

YMAP UPDATE 

Hi to all in the YMAP family,

Just a brief hello and thank you to you all.

End of term is here and thus we say farewell to clusters of students at both Braybrook Secondary and Strathmore Secondary. To those of you who’ve been part of the YMAP family for a time, I am aware that you’ve heard the message before, but make sure you take the time to enjoy the journey with the student/s you are working with.

The time goes far more quickly than we all realize and we inevitably get to that final day and it becomes pretty much a succession of mentors exclaiming “but it has all gone so quickly”. Yes it does! The final day at Braybrook was all quite emotional, but the good news was that all but one of our VCAL students ended up arranging the work placement they required.

I know many really lovely relationships developed – the lovely exchange of parting gifts between students and mentors was really touching. I’ve not had time to go through all the post program data, but some of the feedback from the young people was simply gorgeous.

Here is a sample:

“Please keep this program going for the future.”

“My mentor taught me to follow my ambitions.”

“It was very helpful. I just wish it went on for much longer.”

“It made me a better person.”

How awesome is that!

See, it’s cheerful ‘cause it has a chicken. And also, chickens cannot dance (to the best of my knowledge!), so that makes it funny (unless you’re the chicken)!

OK, some housekeeping. Firstly, Natalie Thomas’ FILLS Program is going gangbusters. Her Braybrook Homework and Literacy Support Program is proving to be remarkably successful.

Karina (who is involved in the project as a co-ordinator), Natalie and I would like to thank those YMAP mentors who have decided to double up and take on a role with the new program. Your commitment to young people is amazing.

But there is always room for more great people, so if you’d like to know more about her program – or if you are student with YMAP who is seeking more placement hours  - please contact Natalie on 0403 168476 or via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Also, it is likely that we will be linking in with Moonee Valley City Council’s Youth Services in semester two, as we integrate the L 2 P learner driver’s program into YMAP at EKC’s East Keilor Campus. More news on that still to come, but if you’d would like to know more about the program please contact Leanne Watt at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

And just a reminder again regarding up-coming school holidays. Please note:

Term Two ends on Friday, July 1, with school holidays for the subsequent fortnight.

All schools return for Term Three on Monday, July 18.

Hope that clears things up for everyone.

Just another reminder that we still have second semester program commitments to fulfil and right now our numbers are DREADFUL, particularly in the two Essendon Keilor College programs, where we wish to maintain our very high standards over the past nine years. If you may be interested in any other following programs please let myself or Karina know. Pretty please!

And further to that, if we don’t have the required numbers very soon, expect me or Karina to call and plead with you. And nobody wants that, do they?

Here are our second semester commitments, as of now.

Please note - Depending on the school, period times may vary slightly, however, as a general rule:

-          P 1 – 2 is approx. 8.45am to around 11 am;

-          P 3 – 4 is approx. 10.45am to around 1pm;

-          P 5 – 6 is approx. 12.45pm to around 3 pm.

# - Please note that the second Braybrook program is likely to expand into an ‘out of hours’ program in the latter half of the year. The school has expressed an interest in having mentors and students work together during school hours – as per usual – and then expanding the relationship to include an extra hour or two at the end of the school day. YMAP mentors on student placement might find this an ideal way to get extra placement hours.

That’s me, by the way. As, with the end of the semester, comes time to say farewell to some of our volunteers, who have or will be going on to other things and other experiences. This is always a genuinely sad time for Karina and I as we say goodbye and good luck to some truly remarkable people.

You just need to know that is has been fabulous working with you all and from the MMVLLEN, Karina, myself, our partner schools and the young people in the YMAP Programs please know that your contribution has been both valued and appreciated.

Our heartiest thanks and please don’t forget about us on your future journeys. And if you think you didn’t make a difference, consider the following:

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito,”

-Dalai Lama

Of course, on the flip side, Karina and I have been very blessed this year to have also met with some splendid new people who have kindly come forward from all walks of life to offer their time and effort to the YMNAP cause.

We’ve had some particularly positive training days in recent weeks and the energy and enthusiasm of the newcomers helps Karina and I sustain our belief in what we are trying to achieve for young people in the region.

To all the newcomers, welcome to the YMAP family and we hope your stay is an awesome one.

That’s about all from me right now, so you all stay great and grab all the happiness you can. I hope to see or hear from most of you in the very new future.

You folks are sensational and, without you, YMAP simply wouldn’t exist.

Greg Blake 

Youth Worker

Co-ordinator - Youth Mentoring Assisted Pathways Program (YMAP)

Maribyrnong Moonee Valley LLEN

40 Bellair Street , Kensington

P.O. Box 78 Flemington 3031

03 93767251

Mob.0422673847

email - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it