Café bid to curb violence

Sydney
2 March 2003

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Café bid to curb violence

Kerry Dolaghan ... 'the kids are crying out for help'

By Damir Govorcin

Marist Youth Care is attempting to build a youth café facility in the hope of curbing youth violence in the Riverstone area.

Following a series of vandalisms to local businesses, the local chamber of commerce sought to implement strategies to resolve the issue of youth offenders in Riverstone, on the outskirts of Blacktown.

Considerations included increasing police foot patrols, increased staffing of the Riverstone police station, commissioning of more private security services and introducing facilities for the young people of Riverstone.

Representatives from Marist Youth Care - an organisation that assists disadvantaged and abused youth - have offered their expertise to manage a youth café to be situated at the Riverstone Community Centre.

The café would offer young people access to computer training, television, pool tables, counselling and employment opportunities.

Marist Youth Care has targeted a number of businesses which it hopes will assist in funding the project.

"There isn't a McDonalds in Riverstone, there is no skate ramp, so the kids are bored and go out smashing windows and breaking into cars," says Kerry Dolaghan, manager of youth outreach at Marist Youth Care.

"Riverstone is a low socio-economic area, so the kids don't have money to do things, which adds to their frustration.

"The kids are crying out for help, and I believe this youth café would build up their self-esteem, give them a place to go and help improve their opportunities of gaining employment."

Ms Dolaghan says the community is divided on the issue, but she hopes to gain enough support to get the youth café project off the ground.

"I can understand that the business owners in the area are angry because they have been the victims of this violence, but we need the business community, residents and the local police to get behind this project," she says.

"At this stage, we are developing the concept in much more detail to table it to the chamber of commerce.

"We will also meet the local police and consult the young people in the area to see what they want.

"If things go to plan, I'm hoping the café will be in operation in a few months."