The Live Free program run by Teen Challenge Victoria is a unique 12 month residential treatment and vocational training program for young men with serious drug and alcohol addictions operating on a 60 acre rural property in Kyabram, in rural Victoria.
Up to 30 young men live on the property at one time in a secure and supportive therapeutic community undertaking rehabilitation and vocational skills training, supervised by qualified staff. The zero tolerance, abstinence based program aims to assist the young men overcome their addictions, find ongoing employment after their graduation and equip them to be able to reintegrate into their local communities. The program offers outreach support services for families and communities across the state.
The Live Free program has in the past 6 months begun a new recycling enterprise as part of its holistic program. The small business provides the opportunity for the young men to function together in a real working environment, making a contribution not only to their own recovery, but providing a better place for the next man that needs help. The enterprise assists with the development of personal disciplines required to hold down a regular job and reintegrate into society.
The workers take broken and discarded transport pallet boards, and remove all the old nails, they then rebuild a re-usable pallet which is sold to a Melbourne based company. The experience is somewhat symbolic of what takes place with the young men who come to Teen Challenge, says Neil Meyer, the Director of the Teen Challenge Live Free Program. “Many of the students have totally trashed lives when they arrive at Teen Challenge. With the help of the student mentors, they learn to get rid of the hurt and unhelpful bits of their lives and rebuild a new life. With many of them going on to live productive lives when they complete the program”, says Neil Meyer.
Teen Challenge recently needed to purchase a new tractor with a front end loader to assist with the running of the enterprise, and for many tasks around the 60 acre property.
The team at Teen Challenge approached Darryl Twitt Honda for help raising the necessary funds to purchase the tractor. The Honda Foundation was very happy to provide $10,000 towards the purchase of the tractor and to support the ongoing work of Teen Challenge.
“The day I arrived in Kyabram to begin my road to recovery was like walking through a doorway to a brand new life”, says Tom who graduated from Teen Challenge in March 2008. “I saw a group of men just like me. I learned to be honest with myself about my struggles with alcohol and drugs. My time at Teen Challenge saved my life and my family relationships are now the most valuable thing in my life”.