#NotEvenOnce reaches just over
3000 Tassie kids in 10 days
23rd Nov to 4th December 2015 saw Teen Challenge Tasmania deliver the #NotEvenOnce Drug Demand Reduction Project to participating Northern Tasmania High Schools including two public Community seminars in Ulverstone and Launceston.
The project educates kids on the "What" is being reported on drugs and alcohols, statistics etc the "How" do Drugs and Alcohol effect my brain and body and then the most important which underpins all the "Why" what is the context for their decisions, what are the reasons someone would try substance. Included are personal stories and coalface experience of the Teen Challenge team and it's graduates here in Tasmania, that are particularly powerful.
The response from the students and teachers has been amazing. We were staggered at the number of kids that wanted to hang back and talk about people they know, their own situations and even kids opening up willing to discuss just how scared they are that they are heading down this path to numb the emotional pain they are feeling through experiences.
Some feedback
"Thank you Tanya and team for some terrific sessions with our students. The students were quickly engaged and the feedback was very positive. Of particular interest to me was how the students reported that your sessions had impacted on their likely behaviour in the future – not even once seems to have struck a chord! Keep up the fantastic work!" Scotch Oakburn College Wellness Coordinator
"Our students had the opportunity hear from people who have been directly impacted by the use of drugs and I believe the reality of this, their honesty and openess made this very "real" for our students" Our students provided feedback about how useful and thought provoking the session was, students were keen to access and take away the resources (books) provided at the end of the session and a number of students were keen to stay on and seek out 1:1 conversations with the team" Scottsdale High School Principal
"All of it I loved it. It gave me an understanding of what drugs can do and affect you not just you but the people around you. It made me think twice about doing any of that" Brooks High School Student
We are excited to start up again for 2016 and are already taking bookings from Schools for this delivery of the program. For more information or to enquire on the project to be delivered in your school or community in 2016 please contact us
#NotEvenOnce proudly sponsored by Launceston City Council
"Home of Hope"
Women and Children's Centre
Teen Challenge Tasmania submitted an Expression of Interest to the Meander Valley Council in December 2015, for use of the Meander Primary School complex in Meander.
It is our intention to open the first "Home of Hope" Women and Children's residential rehabilitation Centre in Australia in this beautiful location within a fantastic community. The centre will allow women with children, single women and pregnant women a beautiful place to enter into the 12-18 month Teen Challenge faith based program, in a safe and stable environment.
The program meets the needs of the whole person, not only dealing with the addiction, but also rebuilding their self-worth, work ethic, spiritual awareness and relationships. Taking a holistic approach to the recovery of alcohol and other drug issues, women are nurtured in all areas of their lives. Their family structures are rebuilt, allowing them to return to society stronger and equipped to succeed as a family.
The Meander Valley Council announced of the 6 applicants for the site they have narrowed to 3. Teen Challenge Tasmania is one of these. There is to be a public meeting held 21st March 7pm at the Meander Community Hall for the applicants to present to the community with time for questions and answers. Taking public feedback from this event the council will make their final selection as to the successful applicant.
Tanya and Genni completed a study, research and training tour in USA during Dec 2015 & January 2016, immersing in Teen Challenge Women and Children Centres in several states of America. Returning home they are equipped, encouraged and energised for the roll out of our own centre very soon.
"I went to America thinking I would be going to learn the "nuts and bolts" of a centre, what I learnt was so much more. Lives are impacted and so deeply changed within these programs. Miracles happen everyday - it was a humbling experience and leaves me incredibly excited to address the severe need here in Tasmania and Australia too." said Tanya "It is very important for a woman with children overcoming addiction to have her children close, but also so important for her children to experience the change alongside her from the "unsafe" mum to this "loving, nurturing" mother. The impact is upon generations not just the individual."
Please pray for us, the Meander community and the Meander Valley Council leading up to and on the 21st March 2016, 7pm.
Teen Challenge Global Woman & Childrens Director arriving in Tassie
We are looking forward to welcoming Diane Swanson, Director of Global Teen Challenge Womens and Children's Ministries to Launceston on the 5th March 2016.
Diane and Lauren (head of Teen Challenge Australia Women and Children's ministries) will be arriving and spending 5 days with the Teen Challenge Tasmanian team, teaching and equipping through intensives in preparation of opening Home of Hope here in Tasmania.
Teen Challenge out and about
We have been blessed greatly by the support we have from Volunteers, communities, businesses and people we meet every day.
Here's a snapshot of what our volunteers and friends have been up to recently:
The Anglican Parish of Deloraine held the first of many Women's Breakfasts on Saturday 20th March in support of Teen Challenge Tasmania. A great morning with 54 ladies present to hear Tanya speak on "Stepping in Faith" and the journey past, present and future of Teen Challenge Tasmania.
The very Handsome Men cooked, served and cleaned up after all the ladies. We were very spoilt.
The ladies are collecting toiletries and personal care products to create Welcome packs for each lady that enters Home of Hope. The lovely bags have been handsewn by Edith. They brought a tear to our eyes when we saw her efforts, Edith is visually challenged significantly, what an amazing woman!!
The Anglican Parish of Deloraine is conducting Mens Breakfast's also in support of Teen Challenge Tasmania, the first being March 19th at 8am, with Peter speaking on "Loving the Unwashed"
We are so thankful to our amazing volunteers that have been running Bunnings Fundraising BBQ"s at North Launceston Bunnings. Raising funds and awareness for our #NotEvenOnce Projects.
Big Thanks to Shane & Jill (Tanya's Mum and Dad), Helen and Peter, Ross, Genni, Samara, Angela, Harry, Margy, Nancyann, Josh, Greg, Mark, Dave, Arielle, Laura and apologies to anyone else I didn't mention. You are amazing people making a difference in young peoples lives through your efforts.
We also had great help from Jill, Shane, Georgie, Ruby and Samara stamping the 4000 books written by Teen Challenge graduates Jade Lewis and Jacob Hill for students to take after #NotEvenOnce presentations.
If you are looking to volunteer, support or fundraise to help Teen Challenge Tasmania reach Tassie kids, individuals and families in need please don't hesitate to contact us via email
Senator Jacqui Lambie
visits Teen Challenge WA
Senator Lambie recently visited WA to gain first hand knowledge of Teen Challenge and so Tanya and Peter were able introduce her to Malcolm Smith, Executive Director of Teen Challenge WA and together meet students, share her personal story with students, view facilities and explore the program.
Connections Mentoring Expanding
We are very excited to see everyday the impact our mentoring program is having on the lives of young people here in Northern Tasmania. This year we expanded our program to include in addition to Brooks High School, Kings Meadows High School with Mentors beginning to be matched and commencing 1:1 sessions.
Watch this space with Deloraine High School and Exeter High School coming on board with the program helping young people within their schools. Always recruiting and training mentors, Tanya was recently in Deloraine, training a large group of mentors ready for matching and roll out.
Special Thanks to Mr Paul Stevenson, Brooks High School, Assistant Principal and Mentors, Jill & Shane Cavanagh and Jamie Hampton for giving up some and all of two Saturdays to speak with the new mentors about the importance of mentoring and their personal experiences.
Who says role plays are tough - these new mentors were showing us that anyone can mentor, anywhere and under any conditions.
As we said Tanya is always recruiting and training mentors. During her recent trip to America, Tanya was introduced to a youth pastor at a Church in Casa Grande, Arizona, whom mentioned they were considering starting a mentoring program and speak with local High Schools to try and connect, but had no idea what program to use or how to go about it. So not one to hold back assistance she offered to train the team during her stay in Casa Grande.
Day one of training we prayed for a School to open their doors - Day two we met (the next day) and heard that a sponsor of a local High School had called the youth pastor that evening (on another matter) and when she discussed the mentoring program they were keen to look at it for the school.
Got roughly an hour a week spare during school terms? View our website about Connections Mentoring and have a discussion with us.
Connections Mentoring supported by:
Tasmanians in Teen Challenge centres
We currently have 4 Tasmanian men in Teen Challenge centres in Victoria and Queensland. Working with men and women here in Tasmania we daily encounter families and individuals seeking assistance. Sometimes they have exhausted services already here in Tasmania or there is no room for them.
Where possible we try and connect them immediately with a service that assists them in the position they are in. Other times we must walk alongside them until entry into a structured program is available. Sometimes the person is refusing to enter a program and just wants to gain support whilst in their current state.
Day Programs to help such individuals are about to be started by Teen Challenge Tasmania, where people waiting for entry or just reaching out for help can attend one day a week for 4hrs and spend time in structured Teen Challenge curriculum, Alpha course, share lunch and each others company and prayer.
For further information please contact us
Prayer Points
There is so much happening for us at Teen Challenge Tasmania we need all the support we can get. However the support dearest to our heart is prayer. Please view the following prayer points and incorporate into your prayers:
- Those people we are assisting that are in programs, have or are reaching out for help and their families. Some are Aaron, Billy, James, Georgina, Ethan, Dylan, Marika, Anita, Chloe, Zac, Josh, Laura, Henry, Darren, Cody, Jai, David, Kate, Courtney, Greg, Isaac, Brayden, Kelly
- Public Meeting 21st March 7pm Meander Community Hall - community, speakers for all presentations, council members, Teen Challenge's proposal
- Day Programs commencing and those participating and leaders helping in this. Especially for Volunteers - Laura, Margy, Greg, Peter, Jamie
- Connections Mentoring - continual supply of mentors, schools involved, the students, their parents and the teachers. Mentors in the program and volunteers helping to support them (especially Jill)
- Teen Challenge Tasmania Board members in direction and growth for this ministry
- Tanya and Peter as they head this ministry in all aspects of frontline ministry and stewardship
- Volunteers assisting Teen Challenge - Genni, Shane & Jill, Helen and Peter, Joanne, Ross, Samara, Angela, Harry, Margy, Nancyann, Josh, Greg, Mark, Dave, Arielle, Laura.
Thank you for taking the time out to catch up with all we are doing in Tasmania. If you would like to have Tanya share about Teen Challenge and their work in Tasmania at a club or event you are running please contact us. If you would like to financially support all that we do to bring hope, life and love into the lives of those submerged in darkness with no hope please visit our website for details.
Many Blessings
from
Tanya and Peter and the Teen Challenge Tasmania Team
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