MORE volunteers are needed to lead a school-based youth mentoring program new to the Hunter.
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Youth Frontiers, a Young Women's Christian Association NSW initiative, was launched across the state in April.
However, some electorates in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie are still short on volunteers.
Swansea has the highest demand with 11 spots to fill, Charlestown and Wallsend each need five volunteers, while Lake Macquarie has four vacancies.
The program is targeted at disengaged year 8 and 9 students and is designed to build their confidence and life skills.
They do this through working on a community project with their mentors, who range in age and bring a wealth of life experience to the table.
The pairs work together on the projects over six months, which are showcased in November.
It's only early days, but Callaghan College Wallsend Campus year 8 student Angelina Richards-Stevenson and her mentor Lauren Craney are enjoying the program.
Angelina said she got along well with Miss Craney and their partnership had boosted her self-confidence.
Miss Craney, 19, is studying a Diploma of Youth Work at Hunter TAFE and jumped at the opportunity to volunteer for the program.
"I wanted to do it because I didn't have access to anything like this in school. I think it would have encouraged me to aim higher."
Angelina has not yet started her project, but she wants to lobby Roads and Maritime Services to fix an accident-prone main road plagued by potholes in Kurri Kurri, where she lives, using social media.
Hunter-Port Stephens Youth Frontiers co-ordinator Kylie Magin, who supervises the program at Wallsend, said she loved the students' enthusiasm.
"Youth have a voice; they have ideas. If they can believe and see that it matters, that's setting a positive pathway for them, whatever they choose to do in life."
■ To become a Youth Frontiers volunteer, phone 9285 6272 or visit youthfrontiers.com.au and submit an online application form.