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August's Charity of the Month: Youth Insearch

Youth Insearch campers participate in a group counseling activity.

It is amazing what one weekend can accomplish. At Youth Insearch's weekend camps, at-risk youth in New South Wales and South Eastern Victoria, Australia, change their lives for the better.

Youth Insearch is a nonprofit organization committed to providing support and guidance to at-risk youth. In doing so, the camp helps pave a way for these teenagers to reach their full potential in a trusting environment. This year, the MDRT Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to Youth Insearch that will help fund the cost of two weekend camps. This grant was sponsored by Roger P. Budd, a 29-year MDRT member from Five Dock, Australia.

Ron Barr founded Youth Insearch in 1985. While working as a high school youth counselor, Barr realized that group counseling for at-risk youth was far more effective than one-on-one counseling. Since then, Youth Insearch has provided counseling to more than 25,000 youths between the ages of 12 and 18. Many of these teenagers have been adversely affected by divorce, domestic abuse, sexual assault, bullying, drug and alcohol abuse and suicide.

 “Youth Insearch is my family. It’s a home away from home. It helped me overcome my past,” explained Missy, a 17-year-old camper. “It taught me that you can’t forget your past, but you can get past it and you move on.”

Each of the weekend camps are run by Youth Leaders. There camp leaders have been through the program in the past, and can therefore easily relate to campers’ problems. Professionally trained staff assists the team of Youth Leaders throughout all activities. Youth Insearch recognizes the importance of year-round support for campers, and have incorporated the use of adult mentors who follow-up with campers and hold support group meetings year-round.