We are excited to announce a 12 month program for our Youth Advisory Council (YAC) starting in August.
In partnership with Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre we are be offering a monthly YAC meeting for teenagers in the Rainbow Families Community. The YAC is open to any child or young person who is part of the Rainbow Families Community. There is a junior and senior council, ranging from 11 – 21 years of age. The junior council offers on opportunity for social connection and age appropriate activities for the young teenagers in our community. The senior council operates more formally and will be active in setting advocacy and policy goals, and develop projects and initiatives for young people and young adults in our community. The senior council also offers and important mentoring role for younger councillors joining the junior council.
Junior Youth Advisory Council
The younger teenagers will be part of a cooking workshop each month led by chef and Community Programs Coordinator Stephen Lunny. Stephen has been working at Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre for nine years as the Community Development Worker. In previous years Stephen has worked extensively in the hospitality industry both in the kitchen and on Restaurant and Café floors. He brings both of these passions together when he delivers his Kitchen Programs at the Centre. “Community coming together to cook and share a meal, Stephen sees as fundamentally human. It brings joy to us and is the glue that strengthens our relationships.”
Stephen is also the Vice President of Positive Life NSW – the voice of people living with HIV. ‘”People always talk about giving back when they refer to volunteering, but I find I get much more back from my work and contribution at Positive Life NSW.”
“I look forward to the year ahead with Rainbow Families. ‘
Each month Stephen and the Junior YAC will explore healthy eating principles and will cook a simple meal for the YAC to share.
Senior Youth Advisory Council
The senior group will meet monthly to work on a project of their choice that will run over the year. These sessions will be facilitated by our Co-Chair Vanessa Gonzalez. The group will decide on an issue they want to have a positive impact on in their community, with the goal of launching the project in June next year.
The group will meet on a Thursday each month from 6.30 – 8.30 at Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre during school term. Parents are welcome to stay and observe, or can drop their YAC members off and go and have dinner in one of the local restaurants with the other YAC parents.
The program is limited to 16 participants in total. Themes and knowledge will develop from month to month, so we ask that families commit to the full year if possible.
This program is possible thanks to funding from The City Of Sydney, and our partnership with Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre.