A program partnering disadvantaged teenage girls with mentors will be launched in Wyndham next year.
The year-long SISTER2sister mentoring program, run by former Werribee resident Marnee May, will be based at the Youth Resource Centre in Hoppers Crossing.
Ms May is the program’s national co- ordinator and the driving force behind its roll- out in Wyndham.
Wyndham will be the first Victorian municipality to be part of the program, which has been running in Sydney for 10 years.
SISTER2sister aims to help girls from backgrounds of abuse, neglect, domestic violence and poverty who are in need of guidance by providing them with a mentor.
The Life Changing Experience Foundation, which runs the program, chose to roll it out in Wyndham because of its soaring population, high teenage pregnancy rates and increasing reports of domestic violence.
Ms May said she was looking forward to helping girls in her home town.
“I want to help as many marginalised girls to become strong, independent women capable of taking their place in the world,” she said. “I was blessed with a loving family and role models who helped me become the person I am today.
“Rolling the SISTER2sister program from Sydney to Victoria is very exciting. What makes it even more special is that I’m going back to my roots to help the very community I grew up in.”
The program has already earned the support of Wyndham council, which gave the foundation a $50,000 grant.
The foundation is calling on youth services to nominate girls from 12-18 who would benefit from being part of the program, as well as women over 25 who are keen to be mentors.
Application forms are available at www.lifechangingexperiences.org
