AJN STAFF

JEWISH Care proved recently that it was becoming far more than an aged-care facility, with two of its youth programs hitting high notes. Year 11 student Dean Levitan, a participant in Jewish Care’s YouthInspire program, was recognised early in December at the City of Port Phillip Civic Awards ceremony.

“I am proud of the way in which Jewish Care is engaging our youth,” Bruce Salvin, Jewish Care’s chief executive, said. “The maturity, calibre and passionate dedication, which these young people display, is a source of inspiration for us all.” Dean, the founder of Youth Against Genocide in Darfur (YAGID), received a certificate of recognition for his work raising public awareness for the conflict and subsequent humanitarian crisis in Darfur.YouthInspire has supported YAGID, which has 150 members around Australia. It provided resources to YAGID to increase public awareness about Darfur via letter writing, meetings with politicians, and fundraising, and helped to raise the group’s profile.

Another of Jewish Care’s youth activities, the Young Achievers Program, also celebrated in December. Participants at the Celebrate 08 event thanked the program’s volunteer mentors, and revisited some of the participants’ successes and contributions over the past year.

Elise Klein, a United Nations youth ambassador who travelled to Mali, was special guest at Celebrate 08, while Ben Cohen and Melodie Bereson, both long-time members of the Young Achievers Program, explained how their self-confidence, creativity and ability to deal with challenges had improved.

“It is heartwarming to see such a meaningful partnership forged between the mentors and their younger charges,” Salvin said. “It is so important that valuable skills and knowledge are being passed on to a younger generation.” Jewish Care’s Young Achievers Program is a mentoring and skills development program for people from year 10 through to their first year out of school.