By CASEY NEILL
YOUNG people can help their community and themselves by putting their hand up.
The City of Greater Dandenong is calling for 16 to 25-year-olds for its Young Leaders program.
They’ll drive and deliver a project to learn a variety skills such as leadership, public speaking, project management and networking.
A family violence forum, a bullying-themed film competition and English classes are projects that previous Young Leaders have delivered.
Rohullah Rahimi was in the 2012 group, now works for the council’s Youth Services and just picked up with city’s Young Citizen of the Year Australia Day award.
“I was interested in developing leadership skills but also improving confidence, self-esteem and knowing my strengths,” he said.
“The main idea behind this was to be helpful for my community.”
Mr Rahimi said the group found through a survey of young people that body image was an issue.
They shared ideas and skills to create a body image project and delivered it to high school students.
Carroll Doran has signed up for this year’s Young Leaders, looking for something different after working on the region’s FReeZA committee for four years.
“The FReeZA committee is music and bands and events, whereas the Young Leaders is more developing skills for life and then implementing them into a program,” she said.
The Dandenong North 18-year-old wants to be a paramedic and is starting university this year.
“I hope Young Leaders will help me develop some more confidence,” she said.
“I think it will help me a lot with where I want to be in life.”
Young Leaders is now in its sixth year and has seen several alumni collect awards and join other influential committees.
Call YStop on 9793 2155 to find out more.
