'Leg up’ for the young

Katana Smith | 7 December 2008 4:00:00 AM

Article from: The Land

A new partnership between Rabobank and the Country Education Foundation Australia (CEFA) will help many more young people to develop leadership skills.

CEFA chairman, Nick Burton Taylor, announced last month at a luncheon at NSW Parliament House that Rabobank would sponsor 35 scholarships to the annual Young Rural Leaders Summit.

Mr Burton Taylor said CEFA had developed rapidly since starting in Boorowa 15 years ago, and 35 communities across the country were now involved in assisting young people to follow their dreams.

A pilot seven-day intensive leaders summit was held this year, with the rollout of the program to begin next year.

“The pilot summit program was an outstanding success with each student returning to their hometown and implementing a project that he or she devised,” Mr Burton Taylor said.

“These projects addressed issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, youth depression and boredom due to lack of local facilities, all areas of concern in rural Australia.”