Cockburn Youth Centre is a safe place to explore your strengths and let them blossom.
This is the shared experience of youth centre regulars Leila Abdulazak and Cameron Kerr who used the skills they honed at the centre’s weekly drama classes to enter the Your SAY, Your Call student film competition.
They created a film about the negative impacts of toxic friendships and bullying, and their effect on mental health. The film was judged equal fourth among 10 finalists chosen from 30 entrants by a panel of communications industry professionals.
Sponsored by WA Police, the Constable Care Child Safety Foundation and the WA Lions Drug Education Foundation, the initiative asked participants to make a three-minute film on bullying and its impact on mental health, to raise awareness that bullying comes in many forms but is never okay.
They were among other finalists aged 12-18 who enjoyed a tour of the WA Screen Academy by Head of Production Jaclyn Hewer before receiving a certificate from WA Commissioner of Police Chris Dawson.
Leila has attended the youth centre for eight of its 10 years and has starred in many of the centre’s drama class productions. She is now a member of the Youth Diversity Alliance.
The centre hopes to encourage budding filmmakers to a film workshop during the September school holidays – keep an eye on its Facebook page for more details.
On Thursday, 20 September, the youth centre will celebrate its 10th birthday with a free 2008-themed party for local youth 6-9pm at its 25 Wentworth Parade base in Success.
Visit the City's
website to find out more about Cockburn Youth Centre.