What’s My Trade? Woorabinda

30-Nov-2010

In October this year, GAGAL took our ‘What’s My Trade?’ (WMT) event on the road to Woorabinda.

The purpose of this event is to encourage young community members to ‘have a go’ and actually construct something to take home. They get to experience hands on what a trade looks like, feels like and, in some instances, tastes like. GAGAL showcases a variety of trade areas that are accessible via apprenticeships and traineeships.

The projects are designed to expose participants to basic skills that would be useful if they decide to undertake one of these trade options. Targeting primary to early secondary school students, the event encourages young people to think about what career choices they may consider in the future and ask questions of those already in the trade area. The substantial difference this event makes to the children both personally and mentally not only days after the event but weeks is astonishing. Their focus at school improves; they have the ability to turn a piece of wood into something constructive and the smile on their face shows just how grateful they are to have the opportunity to participate in such an event.

Over the course of the day they were banging hammers, painting picture frames, tiling, welding their initials on a piece of metal, connecting wires, learning table manners and being educated on the importance of health and hygiene. Not once did these kids stop and disengage, they were continually ‘having a go’ asking “when can we do this again miss/sir” and “when will we see GAGAL again?”

This is the third year GAGAL has taken ‘WMT’ to Woorabinda and we plan to stage this event annually. From the noticeable difference it is making to not only the young people but also the community, GAGAL is now looking into staging the event quarterly in future years and by doing so provide some continuity and also identify likely participants for pre trade programs or even apprenticeships or traineeships.

GAGAL will undoubtedly continue to seek support, either financial or in kind, for each event as the cost to the organisation is prohibitive. If you are interested in sponsoring this event, or would like to find out more information, please contact us.

Any assisting you can give to allow us to continue to offer this experience to the young people of Woorabinda, would be gratefully accepted.

GAGAL would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to the Rotary club of Gladstone for donating the Health & Hygeine packs which were given to the primary school children on the day.

GAGAL would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of our 2010 Woorabinda ‘What’s My Trade’