VOLUNTEERS IN PROFILE: NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK
Volunteering with a Salvation Army youth mentoring program has helped Aleasha Kelly decide her career path.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 20-year-old Ballarat university student switched from studying primary teaching to social work after only a few sessions volunteering with the LARF mentor program, working with socially isolated and disadvantaged youth.
“We aim to promote social skills for children in a safe and welcoming environment that is based on relationships,” Ms Kelly said.
“It is fantastic going into a room with all these kids knowing that you’ve helped them, that they like seeing you, they are happy to have someone and they know there is a happy, safe supportive person in their lives who thinks they are valued.
“The kids there are just amazing. They have the most amazing stories to tell and the most unique personalities.”
The program title LARF, standing for life skills, activities, relationships and fun, and reflects the experience of participants and mentors.
“We do so much fun stuff. I have such a blast. It was only two weeks ago that we had a masterchef cooking competition with cupcakes,” Ms Kelly said.
Sessions run for two hours once a week, alternating between a group of nine to 12 and 12 to 18 year olds.
The LARF bus picks up participants from their houses for the program and often transports the group to excursions.
We want it to be a friendship, so they can know they feel valued and safe and welcomed which is so important.
- Aleasha Kelly
“You really can’t underestimate the power of caring for someone, how important it is to be a supportive person and how important it is for children especially to know there are people they can trust and people they can talk to.
“As the relationship builds you get to see this child who was a little bit intimidated, and didn’t know if they could trust someone, just flourish into this child where they are happy and they feel supported and they’re with their friends. They know they can talk to you and they’re having fun and engaging in all these activities. You can see it and it is incredibly rewarding.”
The LARF program is hoping to recruit more volunteers to allow more children to be involved. The number of participants is limited to the number of volunteers as each mentor is matched to a young person.
READ MORE:
Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
