Building a brighter future

Developing life skills on horseback

WHILE going through a rough patch at the start of the year, Sapphire Young made a decision that would change her life for the better.

After reaching out to headspace Toowoomba, she and her brother were given the option of taking part in the Gateway to Dignity program - a State Government-funded initiative enabling young people who are either homeless or at risk of homelesness to develop resilience and life skills.

Now having graduated from the 19-week program, Ms Young said it was great to look back at how far she and her fellow participants had come.

“It was great to reflect on where we were to where we are now - our personalities and our attitudes and how it’s changed,” she said.

“Everyone has taken a step forward in their lives and I’m really proud of everyone for it.

“Basically the program really taught us about resilience and understanding you can do things if you put your mind to it.”

Through the program, participants got to grips with horse riding, camping, cooking, fencing, woodwork, growing vegetables, and much more.

Nash Horse Trekking, on their property in the Lockyer Valley, provided their expertise and horses for the program across camping expeditions of increasing length, culminating in a four-day, 82km expedition on horse.

Gateway to Dignity coordinator Imogen Allen said two groups had now completed the program.

“I was always positive about the program but I was really surprised to see how much it impacted their lives,” she said.

“To see how much their confidence in themselves has grown and their beliefs and own abilities, and also their perseverance and patience. It’s humbling experience to watch it unfold.”

She said about 20 young people had been through the program since it began in August 2017.

Gateway to Dignity is an initiative of United Synergies, which supports almost 4000 clients around Queensland in the areas of family and children, mental health, suicide prevention, homelessness education, employment and social enterprise.

The program was funded by the Queensland Government’s Dignity First Fund.

Photo: Bazography / Tom Baz NEW OUTLOOK: Enjoying the Gateway to Dignity graduation ceremony are (from left, back) Adam Marshall, youth mentor worker Toby O'Regan, Bryce Smit, youth mentor worker Louise Brotto, Sapphire Young, Gus Aiello, and (front) Joel Cook.