Hayley’s dream to upskill teens
Positivitoys, the brainchild of Stawell teenager Hayley Little, are slowly changing the lives of young people.
Hayley is selling the 12 centimetre, ‘soft fabric cubes with a cute face and positive message’, to help train people in courses including hospitality and responsible serving of alcohol.
She has manufactured and sold enough toys to reach her first goal of funding a course for a young person.
“I believe that sometimes young people just need a chance to show what they can do, Hayley said.
“If by funding a course that gets a young person a job, then I have made a lifelong difference to someone.
“I chose a hospitality-type course as we live in a tourism area and there are times when hospitality skills are in high demand.
“It is a win for the young person and the employer.”
In 2017, Hayley successfully completed a Western Bulldogs leadership program.
This year she has been selected by the Bulldogs to create a social enterprise using the skills she learnt.
“The Western Bulldogs have provided some seed funding to get me started,” she said.
“My mum Karen is also an industrial sewing machinist for Cleverstitch in Dimboola, so I was able to get some brand new material donated, the manufacturing done locally, and it has all taken off from there.”
The Positivitoys are made in the design and colour combination the purchaser chooses.
The random part is the positive message that comes with each toy.
“I really love choosing the message, and I have heard that people say the messages really mean something to them,” Hayley said.
Planning is underway for people to start courses in July.
Hayley has asked Maurice Billi from Grampians Community Health, and Stawell Neighbourhood House to identify young people who could benefit from Positivitoys financial assistance to enrol in a course, delivered at neighbourhood houses.
Positivitoys are sold for $6, with 100 percent of the profit and donations going towards funding the hospitality courses.
Hayley hopes there is enough money earned from Positivitoys to fund courses for young people throughout the year.
Positivitoys are available online via a ‘Positivitoy’ Facebook page, through order forms at Stawell Neighbourhood House, or by emailing positivitoys@gmail.com.