Amy Rees and Emily Stainton want to raise money for new toys and activities for the children's ward at Armidale Hospital.
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The two Year 9 girls are among 11 students at Armidale Secondary College taking part in Youth Frontiers, a government-funded mentoring program for 12- to 16-year-olds.
"Students see ways they can help in the community, and be involved," teacher Annette Callister said. "There have been a lot of good ideas, and people are enthusiastically following through with their projects, which is lovely to see."
This is the first year the program has fully run in Armidale - but, Ashleigh Walton, co-ordinator for New England, said, organisers are desperately seeking mentors to work with the students.
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Ideally, students would be matched with an adult mentor from the community, who would work with them once a week.
"But," Ms Walton said, "we've had trouble finding people interested in working with teenagers, who are available during school hours."
Mentors can be anyone over 18, interested in helping a young person achieve their goals, Ms Walton said.
They don't need any particular skills or experience; they just have to be patient and understanding: "Someone who really wants to support them, and push them to achieve what they're aiming for."
Emily and Amy want to raise $400 for board games, art supplies, and other activities to the children in hospital so they don't get bored. They also plan to hang out with the kids once a week.
This is the first time the girls have had to plan something like this. They would like to raise $400, and have contacted Bunnings about holding a bake sale outside the business.
"It's easy to get involved in the community if you really want to," Emily said.
"But," Amy added, "it's more complicated setting things up: you have to talk to people, and organise things more."
Other students at Armidale Secondary College are fundraising for the Armidale Pound or WIRES; organising song-and-dance performances at nursing homes; or sending hygiene products to women in developing countries.
"It's so exciting to see what the students of Armidale Secondary College have to offer the community," Ms Walton said.
"They're all very passionate about what they're doing, and I think we're going to have some really successful projects to show off come November."
Students, she said, boost their self-esteem and confidence; practice public speaking; and learn life skills like sending emails, making phone calls, networking, and meeting new people.
"Each phone call has given us different ideas that we have to make sure we do," Amy said - whether it's having paper and pen to hand, speaking clearly, preparing beforehand, or following up leads - all skills they'll need in adult life.
The community gets the benefit of the project, Ms Walton said, as well as the next generation of leaders coming through.
The Youth Frontiers program has run in the region for four years. Sixty students will take part this year, including 13 at Tamworth's Peel High School, and 28 at Gunnedah High School. (Walcha and Uralla participated over the last couple of years.)
Two Year 8 girls planned the 'Do or Dye Color Run' in Tamworth last year to raise $600 for Northcott Disability Services. Other students in past years have recreated gardens for adult mental health facilities; visited nursing homes; or sent Anzac care packs to troops serving overseas.
One boy won a state award, including a week's work experience with Family & Community Services (FaCS) in Sydney.
"It really pushed him towards getting on track in school," Ms Walton said. "Using the skills he's learned, he really wants to get into the workforce."
If you are interested in mentoring the students, call Ashleigh Walton on 0498 395 107, or email Ashleigh.Walton@ywca.org.au.