YMCA Healthy Living Magazine, powered by n4 food and health Spring 2018 | Page 15

YMCA EVOLVE YMCA Evolve is an innovative program supporting young people during a critical time in their lives. or many young people, the transition from primary school to high school can be a difficult one. Not only does it usually involve going to a different school and having to make new friends, it also often coincides with many physical and emotional changes. F To ease this transition and help prepare them for the changes ahead, the YMCA Youth Services team has developed a leadership and personal development program for Year 6 students, called YMCA Evolve. YMCA Evolve works in conjunction with the Victorian curriculum, to help primary school students aged between 11 and 12 years, develop the skills, self-awareness and connections they need to grow into young people with resilience, good mental wellbeing, and confidence to express their voice. Over the last 12 months, YMCA Evolve has been brought to 25 schools across Victoria, with positive results. For Jim Pumpa, a year 5/6 teacher at Wantirna South Primary school, he can see the difference the program has made in his classroom. ‘It really helped students in their preparation for high school, in the way it’s broken down the social groups we have within our grade 6 contingent and got them working outside of their comfort zone, and challenging them to work with other groups,’ he said. Ian Boorman, Manager of YMCA Youth Services is thrilled with the initial outcomes, with participants reporting an increased connection with their fellow classmates as well as an improvement in their confidence, communication and teamwork. ‘The feedback we’ve received from teachers and students is the program is having such an impact. We want to share it with all Victorian students – not just ones living in metropolitan areas,’ he said. One student remarked after a session, ‘I feel like we learnt something new and I feel like in the week that we haven’t been with you guys, I’ve used some of the skills you taught.’ YMCA Evolve is delivered using money from YMCA Open Doors. This year, the program will also be funded using money raised from the YMCA’s annual Father’s Day Fun Run, which will enable the program to be delivered to another 1,000 young people throughout Victoria. To find out more about YMCA Evolve, go to www.vicyouth.ymca.org.au SPRING 2018 YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE 15