The Minister for Youth, Stephanie Key, has announced more than $200,000 in youth grants for sixteen community groups throughout the State.
"The Youth in Community and Youth Empowerment grants reflect the Government's strong commitment to young people and provide new opportunities for them to develop and strengthen their abilities", Minister Key said.
"I want young people to be challenged and positively involved in the community, along with having their contributions recognized and valued.
"The grants particularly support initiatives that allow young people to develop skills and attributes which enable them to become more active participants within their community, as well as influence community development.
"Particular effort has also been made to ensure young people from a range of different backgrounds, ages and locations are engaged in the process, with varied programs and mediums receiving funding to encourage participation across the board."
This year's funded initiatives
$6,000 to Carclew Youth Arts Centre, based in North Adelaide, for Raw Advice, a program to empower young artists and designers.
$16,564 to Uniting care Wesley, Port Adelaide to support young people in the northern suburbs with peer educators to help them develop and sustain successful independent living skills.
$6,000 to the District Council of Grant to provide a Youth Space in the Mount Gambier and Districts Community Centre. The Space will provide a much needed area where any young person between the ages of 12 and 17 can come to meet friends, listen to music, use a computer and relax in a safe environment.
$16,000 to Lutheran Community Care to teach life-skills to young people in a `youth friendly' space at Mount Gambier called `The Loft'. This will include the development of social skills, relationship building and independent living as well as coaching in communication, time management and other vocational skills.
$20,000 to the Southern Community Justice Centre in Park Holme to better equip young people to be active participants in the school and wider community through the development of conflict management and peer mediation skills.
$20,000 to the Welfare Rights Centre, based in Adelaide, to employ a Youth Development Worker who will work with disadvantaged young people to develop their skills in personal financial management.
$5,840 to the Findon Community Centre for the establishment of a Health & Wellbeing School Holiday Program in the Charles Sturt Council area. The program takes a holistic approach to youth activity, developing social, vocational and recreational skills for young people through training, workshops, sports and arts activities.
$18,400 to develop individual skills and competencies of junior members of the Wheelchair Sports Association of SA, based in Greenacres, that leads to increased confidence, independence and community participation.
$13, 800 to the City of Salisbury to provide young people with skills development training to enable them to participate in the community as volunteers. The funding will also deliver training to community volunteers to be able to provide programs and opportunities that are inclusive of young people.
$8,800 to St. Columba College Munno Para Inc. at Andrews Farm to develop the life skills of young people and encourage their roles in community citizenship.
$12,450 to the Australian Festival for Young People - also known as Come Out - based in North Adelaide, to assist with two projects. How To Be Human uses performance art and debate to develop communication and conflict resolution skills, and promote informed decision making and positive mentorship. The second project brings together grandparents and grandchildren to create a series of giant tapestries, projected video portraits and glass sculptures.
$12,000 to the Prospect Blair Athol Lions Club to create opportunities for young people to participate in the development of youth policies; foster new alliances with new migrants; be creative; and develop leadership skills in the local community.
$20,000 to the Youth Opportunities Association, based in Royal Park, for a highly successful community leadership program. Trained peer leaders interview, mentor and support graduates and recording their successes, which are celebrated in biannual awards.
$3, 883 to CARA, the Community Accommodation and Respite Agency Inc. for Camp Independence, a respite camp for young people with disabilities. The camp will provide workshops and training to increase skill levels and experiences in areas of daily living.
$19,620 to the City of Mitcham to create opportunities for young people to develop a variety of self-development and peer support skills.
