Making a Difference

If you'd like to know more about what YMAP does and why we do it, how about checking out the new YMAP video, produced and directed by Glenn Newbold. Please click here to watch the video.

Schools First Award 2009

Essendon Keilor College and the M&MV LLEN received the Schools First Impact Award for the work done through YMAP building strong and positive community partnerships in 2009. What the judges said: This is a very strong partnership with clear goals and outcomes along with plans to achieve them. An excellent initiative which generates high class outcomes for students.\

For Our Volunteer Mentors

We try to ensure involvement in the YMAP program is a joyful, positive life experience for all of our valued community volunteers. Engaging with young people, our partner schools and teachers, local council and other support agencies can be an exciting learning experience in itself. Volunteers are fully screened in the recruitment process - we facilititate a Working With Children check – and are fully trained and supported throughout. One promise to our volunteers is that working one-on-one with a young person is almost always an exciting, rewarding and happy journey.

If you are interested in applying for a mentoring role, see the info sheet and application form in the downloads section below.

For Our Young People

Depending on the nature of the program, YMAP offers young people a variety of positive experiences. The program may work on community-engagement and connectedness, life skills, personal development, re-engaging of Year 10 students into their VCE years, assisting and informing ‘exit’ students about options, support networks and employment options to facilitate a smoother post-secondary school transition or identifying, facilitating and supporting the student’s compulsory work experience component of their studies, depending on the young people involved.

For Our Schools

Our supportive partner schools continue to engage YMAP because they believe in what the program can and does achieve for the young people involved. Each individual program is designed to accommodate the respective needs of that particular school environment. The lengths of programs vary, as does the purpose, providing best fit models for young people, schools and volunteers. According to all the measurable data available, YMAP is working positively for our partner schools.

The Victorian Youth Mentoring Alliance is the peak body for youth mentoring in Victoria to visit their website click here.

The Coordinator's Communication Updates

For the latest news and details about the YMAP program download the most recent update:

Communication Update May 2011 (3)

Communication Update May 2011 (2)

Communication Update May 2011

Communication Update March 2011 (2)

Communication Update March 2011

Communication Update February 2011

Communication Update February 2011 (2)

Communication Update January 2011

Communication Update January 2011 (2)

Other Downloads:

Info_for_Potential_Mentors_2011

Mentors Expression of Interest Form

Decisions Decisions - A School Leaver's Guide

Amazing Space 2010

The M&MV LLEN is all about creating and supporting productive community partnerships.

With this in mind the LLEN's YMAP Program set about creating one of its most ambitious community partnerships in 2010, called the 'Amazing Space' project.

In conjunction with five major stakeholders - the LLEN, Essendon Keilor College, Niddrie Primary School, a group of devoted community volunteers and Moonee Valley City Council (through Youth Services) - the concept was to create an 'amazing space' within the school grounds of EKC's Niddrie campus.

Where 12 months ago there was a spartan area of asphalt, by November 2010 there existed in its place a delightful gardened, seating area (see photographs), which has become the EKC student's relaxing area of choice since it's opening on November 23.

As Moonee Valley City Council generously supported the project through four different departments, wonderful community volunteers mentored year 9 EKC students, who themselves mentored grade 6 primary students from Niddrie Primary.

The entire group identified the area, designed the area, measured the area, built 3D models, submitted designs for approval, sourced the required materials and, ultimately, rolled up their sleeves and actually turned the area into the 'Amazing Space'.