Youth Insearch / Outreach Chariman Peter Kiernan

Youth Insearch:

Youth Insearch is a programme involving the assistance given to troubled youth, 2 camps are being held this year one in August & a later one in December. These camps provide the forum for the youth to get together & share their experiences, counselling sessions & general assistance is provided in a safe enviornment. The young people are taught to hug & open up to each other & given positive ideas on how to improve their situations. It is all about sharing & caring, to show encouragement that you can achieve a better life. Each attendee is a given a brightly knitted rug or {Love Wrap} knitted by ladies throughout the District, these are sometimes the one & only possession that these young people have to call their own & they convey far more than body warmth, they contain positivity & a hope for a brighter future.

Clubs can volunteer to assist at these camps in many different aspects & I have never heard one Lion come away from a camp with anything but awe & respect for the great work that is carried out by the team.

Youth Insearch continues to be a large need for the youth of our community, with each camp being fully patronised. Because of this application was made to District Cabinet to support a third camp this year. Unfortunately I believe from the numbers attending camps & the numbers being turned away a third camp in the District is to become a permanent item on the agenda. We are showing a larger need than we had envisaged. Our camps are still being conducted on the out skirts of Bundaberg & we are the only group who are permitted to self cater which is a huge saving.

To the members of the Lions family who support Youth Insearch be it with love wraps, finance or their time, from the youth of our district thank you for that support.

On board with us we do have support from other organizations "The Giving Grannies", "Vietnam Veterans", "Cooloola Dragon Boat Club" the support of these groups is greatly appreciated.

We also receive support from Districts Q1 & Q3, we are now receiving assistance from Lions Clubs around Port Macquarie in NSW at the Insearch camps in that area. Camps have recommenced in Victoria.

Please contact Peter Kiernan for further advice & information on Youth insearch.