A group of at risk youth faced their fears and broke down barriers to personal growth when the new intake for Civic Solutions Get Set for Work program spent three days and two nights getting to know and trust each other at The Outlook camp in Boonah.
Activities at camp included swimming, team building, high & low ropes courses, canoeing, rock climbing, abseiling and cooking. Participants enjoyed the canoeing but were most challenged by the aerial activities.
One participant was sure he would not go to the top of the ropes course and totally surprised himself when he was the first to succeed. One of the biggest challenges issued was to climb the 50m Hoop Pine Tree with six participants making it to the top to enjoy the view, this was a huge moment for one participant who didn't complete the flying fox activity but was pleased she had faced her fear of heights to be one of the successful tree climbers.
The second day of the camp is a big day full of activities and, according to GSFW Coordinator Campbell Barbour; this facilitates the greatest team bonding and personal growth. The problem solving activities were recognised by the participants as being the biggest factor in helping them to learn to work as a team.
Leadership skills were demonstrated and practised; one participant said, "It's important, someone has to take control of the group or things go bad and I learnt that I shouldn't be afraid to talk to people, to open up to get the job done."
A proud outcome for another participant was that he had avoided getting into any fights during the three day camp.
Get Set for Work, funded by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, is a 15 week transitional program run by Civic Solutions that helps young people develop the confidence to be who they really are rather than fitting into the stigma put on them by peers and other external forces.
The program gives participants the chance to change their lives through the use of activity based learning and education. Activities undertaken during GSFW such as work site visits, catering projects, sport, music, and art allow participants to learn and express themselves in ways that strengthen their personal values, confidence and self esteem.
Guest speakers from employers and community groups are a regular part of each week. Through careful selection of work experience placements many participants are offered employment, traineeships or apprenticeships.
www.civicsolutions.com.au
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