Melbourne’s Young Achievers
Melbourne’s Jewish Care’s Young Achiever Program mentors, mentees, alumni and donors have marked the end of a successful year with a celebratory dinner.
2013 Young Achiever Program Graduates.
The event acknowledged the passion and dedication demonstrated by Jewish Care’s amazing volunteer mentors, graduating mentees and the donors who make the program reality.
Young Achievers Program mentor Frances Prince with mentee Shlomit Kuttner
Keynote speaker was the inspiring and down-to-earth Carolyn Creswell, founder of Carmen’s Muesli. Carolyn shared stories about her 20-year journey in turning a tiny business into a multi-million dollar muesli company.
Lana Block, Young Achievers Program Coordinator, said in 2013 a total of 18 mentees were successfully paired with mentors and joined in a range of skill-based workshops and two-night camp.
She said over the year participants had “learned valuable skills, taken on new challenges, discovered new possibilities and built social networks and friends for the future.”
Young Achievers Program mentor Josh Szental with mentee Benji Prawer
Mike Debinski, Jewish Care President, speaking at the dinner said, “One of the key features of the Young Achievers Program is the matching of a young person with potential with a mentor full of life experience.”
“What I hope this program has shown is that although you may find bumps in the road, that doesn’t mean you have to face them alone,” he said.
This year, the Young Achievers Program marked 10 years of helping youth develop life skills, improve self-confidence and reach their goals.
The function was held at the Adele Southwick Function Centre, St Kilda Synagogue.
