By Melissa Grant
Younger mums sometimes face barriers that can leave them feeling alone, unsupported and overwhelmed.
Those barriers may make it extremely difficult for them to access health services, education and the support they need to be the best mums they can be.
That’s where The Empowerment Challenge comes in.
The vision of five local Geelong mums is to create a one stop hub that will support younger mums to develop strength within themselves to connect, feel supported and be part of a community. This will help change the lives of not only the younger mums but for generations to come.
“The hub will allow younger mums to feel connected to their community and to meet other younger mums going through similar circumstances” Michelle Polidano, a younger mum herself, explained.
“Many of these younger mums feel judged and have lived around family violence, generational unemployment and poverty. Most suffer with mental health conditions.”
The Empowerment Challenge will provide services specifically for parents and parents to be under the age of 26. The hub will be based in 3214 and will offer onsite family planning, counselling and a youth worker.
The hub will have an education area with WiFi so younger mums can complete online education courses while their child is onsite in childminding.
“Sometimes younger mums just need that extra support,” Michelle said.
“If they are doing online courses, for example, it can be hard for them to have access to a computer or WiFi, or they may have a child at their leg when they are trying to complete the work.”
It’s an experience that many mums face but for these mums who have little or no support, having these services wrapped around them will give them the confidence and resources to follow their dreams.
The Empowerment Challenge will also be a place where younger mums can simply drop in for a cuppa.
Shannon Graham, the director behind the charity, said “mums who were feeling isolated often just want to have a chat”.
“Having a hub will give younger mums somewhere they can keep coming, where there is no judgement and someone to listen,” she said.
Although there are already some great services for mums, the Empowerment Challenge has identified a gap.
“Some of those services can be a bit limited as they don’t offer long-term involvement, or have a younger age criteria” Shannon said.
The Empowerment Challenge is hoping to have the hub up and running by the middle to latter half of the year and is keen to talk to anyone who can support this important work.
”They are incredible mums and just need someone to believe in them. To say, ‘you’ve got this, you can do it, don’t give up’. Everyday we don’t have the doors to our hub open, is another day we are unable to help.”
The women involved are currently fundraising and looking for donations.
To donate, or for more information, visit www.facebook.com/theempowermentchallenge/ or www.empowermentchallenge.org.au/
