AFTER eight weeks of workshops, talks and trust-building activities, six young people completed the Wingecarribee Adolescent Survival Program (WASP).
Each term for the past 18 months, WASP has helped teenagers who dropped out of school and were at risk of becoming homeless.
Topics covered included risk taking, anger management, drugs and alcohol, sexual health and living skills. They learned about problem solving and teamworkthrough activities such as canoeing, high ropes course, abseiling, bush tucker tours, art, photography and filmmaking.
The WASP after-care program will continue to support graduates, helping them to enrol in further education and find jobs.
Due to lack of funding, this term’s graduates could be the last.
Adolescent and Family Counselling Service coordinator Gail Stivano said until now WASP had partnered with other organisations and programs, but this was no longer possible.
“We need to find one funding provider that will be ongoing, which we’re currently looking into,” Ms Stivano said.
“We’re also in the process of doing a full evaluation of the program so that when it returns it will be stronger and most importantly sustainable.
“We have some challenges ahead but they are nothing like the challenges the young people have overcome during the program.
“Hopefully, it will be back up and running in the near future.”