Driving ambition to get volunteers
VOLUNTEERS are needed to help disadvantaged youth accrue the necessary hours to get their provisional driver’s licence.
The Braking the Cycle program, run by Townsville PCYC, aims to provide young people with increased employment opportunities, community connection and driver education.
Lashoda Street, 17, lost both her parents at a young age and lives with her grandparents, who work away from home.
The teenager had no one to teach her to drive and relied on friends and public transport to get to and from work and school.
Lashoda was deemed as an “at risk” child and became a Project Booyah participant in 2015, turning her life around.
“I wouldn’t say I was a good girl,” Lashoda said.
“I took everything for granted and was very disengaged with school … everything went downhill when my parents passed.
“But now I have more confidence in myself, I have a job as a barista and am going to university … I want to be a nurse.”
Lashoda has recently signed up to the Braking the Cycle program and will build up her mandatory 100 hours with volunteers.
Program co- ordinator Craig Barnsley said there were 38 disadvantaged youth, aged 16 to 25, signed up to Braking the Cycle.
Anyone interested in this rewarding venture should visit the PCYC at 113 Wellington St, Aitkenvale or call on 4781 9100.