August 2011 – No. 1

Communication Update 

Hi to all in the YMAP family,

YOU ARE FABULOUS! Yes, you.

In a late rally of support we have managed to get some really good mentoring numbers at both the East Keilor and Niddrie campuses of Essendon Keilor College. I am so bloody thankful to you people for that.

We have set some really high standards with this school in the past and, in turn, the school continues to challenge us with greater numbers of students. This time around we’ve 24 and 20 students respectively at the two different campuses, so I am very relieved that you beautiful YMAP people have responded so well again.

Both programs start this week, so I am looking very much forward to seeing you all. I’ve met many of the young people already and I think they are really looking forward to their mentoring journey with you. Also, a handful of them were involved in last year’s ‘Amazing Space’ program, so they are familiar with mentoring already.

And to those of you who have come through the system recently and will be mentoring for the first time, ENJOY THE JOURNEY! Karina and I have both agreed that some of our new mentors to have come through training recently are going to be simply fantastic in the mentoring role, so we look forward to having you involved.

I am very happy right now, despite getting into the busiest term of the year. With Gilmore Girls and Footscray City now up and running and two EKC programs starting in days, we will soon be in five schools in as many days. The next start-up is at Braybrook College on August 15, and WE STIILL HAVE A COUPLE OF MENTORING VACANCIES OUT THERE. If you might be interested the program runs on a Monday afternoon and all you need do is ask anyone who has worked out there and they will tell you that Braybrook is one of THE funnest programs to be involved in. I promise. Contact Karina or myself if you may be interested.

That is how happy it is at Braybrook, BTW!

Not quite so happy though that a number of first semester mentors are leaving YMAP for various reasons and going off to do other (great) things. It is always a little sad for me when we have to say goodbye to terrific people, but that is the nature of my job with YMAP. So while we reluctantly bid you farewell, please know that YOU HAVE CHANGED A LIFE IN A POSITIVE WAY. We thank you so very much for your time, commitment, passion and empathy.  Which reminds me of something I read recently, something I think reflects what YMAP is about.

“The nature of empathy is to think oneself into the minds of others. Imagining what it is like to be someone other than yourself is at the core of our humanity. It is the essence of compassion, and it is the beginning of morality.”

 As I mentioned in a recent newsletter, it seems SpiritWest Services (the education arm of the Western Bulldogs Football Club) WILL be back on board and running a program later this year (likely term four). We missed being out there last year, but recent discussions suggest we will return in 2011. SpiritWest is a VCAL-based community school and it seems likely they will be identifying around ten students whom they believe will benefit from a mentoring relationship. Also we are currently talking to Kensington Community School about a return there as well. More news on both schools soon, BUT WE CAN ONLY COMMIT TO THESE PROGRAMS IF WE HAVE THE MENTORING NUMBERS. Again, please let us know if you might be interested (and if students doing uni placements need some extra hours, this might be the ideal way to get an extra 50 to 100 before the end of the year!).

Finally just an extra thanks to the Footscray City mentors who put their hands up to take the students they are working with to the Careers Expo last Friday. Watching people who are prepared to go the extra yard to support these young people is inspirational.

As always thanks for your time and wonderful work folks.

Please stay great, be happy, be healthy and be kind.

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

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