Students across Griffith have been partnered with mentors in a new program designed to develop leadership and community spirit.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Laura Tagliapietra, personal assistant to council general manager Brett Stonestreet and mayor John Dal Broi, signed up to the Youth Frontiers Mentoring Program.
The NSW Government-funded program saw high school students assigned a mentor for a six-month period to assist them plan and implement a community based project.
Ms Tagliapietra was paired up with Andria Zanotto, a 14-year-old Year 8 student from Griffith High School with a natural gift for writing.
“We’re lucky we got paired together,” Ms Tagliapietra said.
“Andria’s a go-getter and a perfect match to my personality.
“Together we’ve done a lot of work on the project.”
Andria was one of 10 students from Griffith High School and Wade High School who had taken part in the program, receiving twice-weekly mentoring sessions while working on a project which is now on display at Griffith City Library.
“I’m really glad I got Laura,” Andria said.
“The program has been really fun.”
Andria’s project was based on the Anzac Day centenary and the Griffith students who travelled to Gallipoli for the event. Originally intending to produce a booklet, Andria adapted her ideas to the visual display after some advice from her mentor.
“I wanted to profile local veteran Stan Broome and include the stories of the students’ experiences as well as incorporate some of my own writing,” Andria said.
“My sister was one of the ones who went to Gallipoli and when she told me about her experiences I thought it was really interesting.
“It was good that this year is the centenary and the display is up to coincide with Rememberance Day.”
The most remarkable part of the display is the short story Synchronicity which Andria wrote and is far beyond her years.
“I entered it in the Write 4 Fun competition and it will be published next March in Rewrite Repeat,” Andria said.
Ms Tagliapietra said Andria had done a considerable amount of work.
“It’s absolutely amazing,” she said.
