Fun-packed van services rural youth
The new van that will be used by the rural schools and community worker will use throughout south west New South Wales. (Photo supplied by Karen Connors)
A new mobile van packed full of activities, games and resources is helping young people in rural New South Wales access more of the resources their city counterparts enjoy every day.
The van will operate as a service out of the rural arm of the Schools and Community Program. The program aims to tackle issues affecting young people by partnering with schools and the wider community. It’s fully funded by The Salvation Army and began work in July this year, servicing the south west area of New South Wales, in particular Griffith, Leeton, Yanco, Narrandera, Temora and Wagga Wagga.
Equipped with internet, the vehicle will eventually, when funding is available, have laptops for young people to do their homework. There is a Play Station and Xbox console, which can be played on a TV outside the van.
ACT and South NSW Divisional Youth and Children’s Secretary Karen Connors says the vehicle was designed to be able to be parked at a school, skate park, park, or other community area.
“The real purpose of the van was to address some of the problems we could forsee working in a mobile role and offer more flexibility to meet the needs of these small and isolated communities,” says Mrs Connors.
“We wanted to project the message that The Salvation Army is about serving rural school and communities.”
The rural schools and community worker will use the van to travel to rural communities, offering pastoral support and reaching out to youth aged between 10 and 14 years.
The colourful van is covered in illustrations that show the activities young people can take part in, and that may evolve into an occupation as adults. They hope to encourage young people to achieve good things for their lives.
“The van provides opportunities for us to work where there are limited physical resources and to take our support to wherever it’s needed rather than asking young people to come to us,” says Mrs Connors.
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