Recently our team including Rev Dr John Smith (Founder), Michelle Crawford (CEO) and Tim Powell (Values for Life Program Manager) met to reflect on the past, discuss the present, and explore the future. During this time, Tim shared insights, trends and highlights from school seminars over the past year.
For 50 years, Values for Life has been positively influencing and inspiring young people and children to reach their full potential through school based incursion seminars and workshops.
Young people today, more than ever, need to hear counter-cultural messages that focus on finding a reasonable faith, a meaningful life, being authentic, and being compassionate to others, in an ever changing world.
Values for Life teaches them coping mechanisms, resilience, and how to deal with bullying, cyber-bullying, stress, anxiety, depression, drugs and most importantly a capacity to consider the ultimate questions of life.
Values for Life teaches social justice and values based identity. Shakespeare long ago wrote “To be or not to be? That is the question.” Today, widespread depression, self-harming and drug abuse among our youth indicate the loss of identity and meaning is as destructive as ever.
“Schools are the central point to reach the entire future population. When I go to a school, I am looking at tomorrow’s leaders, politicians and millionaires, along with tomorrow’s drug addicts and homeless people…. they are all here. And WE have the opportunity to influence them.” – Rev Dr John Smith, February 2018
The reason Values for Life has been so successful for 5 decades is that it speaks to the heart of children and young people, engaging them in relevant activities that are meaningful, purposeful and give hope.
Our feedback forms reinforce this, with anecdotal comments from students: “Nothing anyone has ever said has gotten through to me – except for this!” – Year 8 Student
Last year Values for Life received a 94.3% approval rating from students and teachers, and our 2017 achievements exceeded our expectations.
We believe greater things are still in store, and we want to ensure that we continue to carry on the legacy of this great work started in the late 1960’s to inspire hope and instil values for life in young people.
We seek your support to enable us to continue to grow Values for Life, to carry on doing this vital and important work to have a positive impact on the next generation of leaders!
To donate now to support Values for Life phone us on 03 9470 2972 or click here.
“Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.” – Psalm 119:66