Marie and Odette give the thumbs up to Cairns Corps youth internships
BY LAUREN MARTIN
Young school leavers are being given the opportunity to serve their local community and gain employment through a new youth intern program at Cairns Corps in Far North Queensland.
Cairns Corps Youth Ministry Coordinator Tahlia Johnson said The Salvation Army began the pilot program after learning about government-funded traineeship opportunities in various TAFE courses, including office-admin work skills.
“We have a real need in our community for meaningful employment for young adults,” Tahlia said. “Our youth congregation is mostly made up of young people from refugee or Indigenous backgrounds, and because of that, they face significant disadvantage to employment.”
The corps became accredited to offer traineeships in Office Administration and Work Skills and employed two school leavers, Marie and Odette, in March. It’s hoped that another two youth interns will begin in August.
“Because of the training that they have received, they have used what they have learned to give back to the community through our Salvation Army community services and ministries,” said Tahlia. “They help out with our Just Brass program, our Youth Church service on Friday nights, our KidZone midweek kids club ... all sorts of stuff!
“We were also able to put them through a barista course, so they sell coffees outside the family store on a weekly basis and are able to engage with the community there.”
The interns have also been given the opportunity to learn from and work with the Cairns Salvation Army Community Services worker, Tresor Bikorimana, and Major Emma Johnson from The Salvation Army’s Cairns Supported Accommodation to learn more about the Army’s work in a broader context than just corps programs.
“They have gained invaluable knowledge and experience in these fields through hands-on training and mentoring so that they will have professional expertise once their internships have concluded,” said Tahlia.
Odette Nyiramirimo has just finished her traineeship and has applied for it to be extended so that she can study a Certificate IV in Christian Ministry at The Salvation Army’s Eva Burrows College. She said the experience has been life-changing.
“I really enjoy working with The Salvation Army, and it gives me a lot of opportunities,” she said. “I believe God is calling me to share the gospel.”
Fellow youth intern Toupou Marie Johnson said when she was at school, her vision was always to do something to help others. She joined The Salvation Army youth group and became aware of the youth intern program earlier this year, so she applied.
“The Salvation Army is a welcoming hand to everyone. It doesn’t matter what your background is. That’s why I joined The Salvation Army and come to youth group on Friday. It has helped me a lot.”
She would like to go on to study a Certificate IV in community services at Eva Burrows College and says she would love to one day secure a community services role with The Salvation Army. “I enjoy all of it, what Tahlia is teaching me. The community services, too. I enjoy helping people a lot, that’s why I chose community services.”
Cairns Corps plans to expand the program into traineeships for retail services at several of its family stores. The program has allowed the corps to give ‘jobs with a purpose’ to young people seeking employment – connecting them with community and ministry. “We’re already starting to see the ripple effects within the community through the work that Marie and Odette have been able to do. It’s really exciting!” said Tahlia.
