Team Awesome is one of several teams working under the auspices of Leadership Victoria to hone their leadership and skill sets for their professional lives. Last year five members of Team Awesome approached Threshold Housing Society and asked how they could contribute to the problem of youth housing and at-risk youth in general.
Right from the beginning this energetic and enthusiastic group made the youth in both the housing and SHY program complete participants. During a “dot-mocracy” night at Mitchell House, the youth were invited to dream big and think of what activity, if they had a chance, would they like to do. It was a difficult process because so many of the youth had never dreamed they be able to try something like scuba diving or archery. However, once the votes were in, Team Awesome went about looking for sponsors and trying to organize a special day that would encompass the wishes of the youth plus encourage the values of participation, community, self-realization and increase the profile of Threshold in the community; see post below on Zone 91.3.
Such organization was no easy task as at-risk youth have a general mistrust of adults, may not know what it is to have activities just for fun, and don’t like to be challenged to go beyond their comfort zone.
Over several weeks, Team Awesome, was able to find community support and put 
together an agenda for a truly amazing day of activity. As that special day approached, some youth actually backed-out, their anxiety perhaps getting the best of them. For most, there was apprehension mixed with expectation.
True to form, Team Awesome, comprised of Ryan O’Neill, Chris Barnes, Kim Perkins, Phil Gaudet, Rebecca Scott and mentored by Sarah Hood, crafted a challenging but incredible day of activities that would be totally inclusive of staff, team members and youth.
The big day started at 7:30am and began with horseback riding at Val Vista Stables following by lunch. Then it was off to canoeing on the Gorge with the help of Power to Be; others went off to Commonwealth Pool to scuba dive with the help of Ogden Point Diving. After that, it was o
ff to try our hand at archery assisted by the Bowmanship Association of Victoria. As if this wasn’t enough, the entire group finished with an hour of yoga assisted by Moksha Yoga of Victoria. All of this was followed by a huge dinner of Chinese Food with awards. There was also a distribution of tote boxes for each youth; the boxes were filled with gift certificates and other needy items.
It is difficult to convey the sense of accomplishment on part of the youth. Many had “gripped their fear” and overcame their doubts. Most exceeded (as did staff and team members) their comfort zones and truly experienced something new.
Team Awesome: Rebecca Scott, Phil Gaudet, Christine Barnes, Sarah Hood, Ryan O’Neill, and Kim Perkins
Perhaps the best lesson of the day was that everyone learned the power of community, to act together for a common good. If you want to watch an incredible video of this day, click here!
Team Awesome was truly awesome in modelling for youth what mature, healthy adults do in order to cultivate community and heal our common humanity.