Nurjhan has attended The Girls & Boys Brigade from when she first entered Kindergarten. Now, about to finish her HSC, she is grateful to the Brigade and all its supporters for helping her through her school years.
2021 proved a challenging year for youth like Nurjahn, with the Sydney Lockdown disrupting her final weeks of year 12.
“I don’t know what I would have done without the Youth Program being there to support me through my HSC trials,” Nurjhan said.
“Being stuck at home for this long has been hard. It’s often difficult to communicate with teachers and at times I’ve felt disconnected and unsure of my work. But it was the friendly phone calls and encouraging emails I received from the Brigade that reminded me to keep trying and not give up.”
“The team has been here through thick and thin. If we need help, they’re here to support us. ”
Throughout the Lockdown, the Youth Program provided remote support to youth like Nurjhan. Our team ensured the youth were equipped with the educational resources they needed to learn from home. For some youth like Nurjhan, this also meant connecting them with a tutor to help prepare for final exams.
As well as educational support, the team has been delivering packs with art supplies and cooking ingredients. The youth were challenged to cook healthy meals for themselves and come together on Zoom every week for virtual Youth Dinner Nights. This helped the youth stay connected to each other and provided a way for them to share stories and challenges of living in lockdown.
“I have made some incredible friends at the Brigade over the years,” says Nurjhan. “I have the amazing staff and volunteers to thank for being there to help support and encourage me throughout my schooling life.”
“The love and support I have received from the Girls & Boys Brigade has impacted my life forever and I’m excited for what lies ahead. Next year I am hoping to be accepted to NIDA and then audition for The Voice.”
We wish youth like Nurjhan all the best as they take on their next adventure.