10th anniversary for Young Achievers Program
Melbourne’s Jewish Care’s Young Achievers Program has celebrated a decade of helping Jewish youth develop life skills, improve self-confidence and reach higher goals.
Young Achievers Alumni Melody Bearson, Josh Black, Ev Kaganovitch and Dani Meisner.
The Young Achievers Program pairs every teenage mentee with a successful, astute and generous mentor, a volunteer in the community, who helps them achieve their goals. The program fosters knowledge, skills and friendships in a fun way through skills-based workshops, cultural exchange, theatre sports, self-defense, first aid training, camp and more.
Mike Debinski, Jewish Care President, said the mentoring aspect of the program worked for the betterment of not just individuals, but the whole community.
He said: “When we as adults and mentors, share our skills and knowledge with young people through this program, we become a role model of future behavior. When we teach young individuals to lead; we create leaders for the community. When we have strong individuals, we have a strong community.”
Susie Ivany, Jewish Care Board Member, Frances Prince and Eric Kraus, mentors and Vivien Brass, co-founder.
“Furthermore, when we demonstrate how Jewish Care impacts positively on the lives of others, we build an understanding and a sense of responsibility in our youth, as well as others outside immediate family and friends.”
YAP Alumni Ev Kaganovitch said, “By combining the three core elements of workshops, mentoring and financial assistance, the Young Achievers Program is truly a one of a kind program. It allows you to expand your social horizons, pushes you beyond what you feel is comfortable and, for those like me, an open door into the Jewish community.”
Bill Appleby, Jewish Care CEO, thanks the trustees of Jakob Frenkiel estate Richard Greenfield and Emilio Bortignon
Bill Appleby, Jewish Care CEO, made a moving speech thanking the trustees of the estate of Holocaust survivor Jakob Frenkiel OBM, who was remembered for his generosity, through his estate, to the program. Mr Appleby also thanked donors and others who had supported the program.
