Looma youth gain mentors

The Looma community has secured funding for youth camps which aim to connect local young people with mentors and help them work through issues that come up in life.

The community’s youth camps are now funded through a $50,000 grant from Rio Tinto.

Co-ordinated through Red Cross mentors officer Henry Williams, the next camp will be held in December, at One Arm Point.

It is expected to be attended by up to 20 young men and women from Looma, and residential students of the University of WA’s St George’s College , as part of a mentoring program.

These future professionals use technology to connect with the young Looma people, creating an ongoing mentoring arrangement, involving up to four camps per year.

Not-for-profit organisation, True Blue Dreaming, which has been working with Looma for about five years, manages the grant.

True Blue manager Bob Southwell said the students paid their own way to be involved.

“True Blue Dreaming has a strong connection to the young people in Looma,” he said.

“We offer an appropriate and practical approach to issues facing young people there – breaking the cycle of dispiriting activities to solve some of the issues.”

Mr Williams said he co-ordinated other service providers to attend the camps, for example to deliver information on youth justice services, health screening, team-building activities and protective behaviours.

He will also deliver Drumbeat, a program to use drums and music to explore key issues of life, relationships, harmony, identity, emotions and feelings and teamwork.

“Drumbeat is ideally a 10-week course but, in the camp situation, I focus on one area for the week,” he said.

“I would like to offer the Drumbeat program through the schools here in Derby as well – I am in discussions to start that next year.”