So just got home from helping out on the Salvo's bus. This is an amazing community program organised by the one and only salvation army. They have this state of the art bus with computer terminals +internet, xbox consoles, playstations and a full BBQ kitchen which serves food for dozens of kids every night. I was helping out with set up and serving up the burgers...we would have seen close to 100 burgers roll out the door! was packed!
Speaking with some of the kids there it really is amazing what the bus means to them. It is a place to meet, a safe location to relax. It gives them something to eat and drink and ultimately allows them to connect with youth workers and the like to help them. I met this little 9yr old called Sarah who has just been squatting in abandoned buildings around Melbourne over the last year! It is truly shocking.
After the bus I sat down with my DayEight Cap on to chat with Brad and Brenden (the two gents that are the force behind the bus and some of the Salvation army's youth programs in the city). We began talking about a new strategy to give struggling kids additional opportunities. I suggested we bolt on a youth skills institute into the 69 bourke street drop-in centre + the bus. This would involve getting musicians, artists and designers giving up their time to apprentice kids in their skill. By doing so it would give the kids an opp. to learn to play guitar/dj/graphic design/sing/whatever and give them a path of future success to build on.
Brad loved the idea and it looks like DayEight will partner with the Salvos to implement this from june!
Now all that is left is finding a team and getting moving!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone out there reading this, please email me (matt@dayeight.com.au) or twitter me (@donazzan) letting me know if you are interested in getting involved.
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dude absolutely bloody amazing, as i said in the msg would be sweet to jump on this bus sometime and give a helping hand and have an opportunity to chat with some of these guys! inspirational and amazing stuff! definately see a need for something to happen here, and sure if DayEight as the potential to do this, lets get this baby going!!
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