A MANDURAH teen’s passion for social justice and helping people has made her a role model for youths in care.
Chelsey Boyd entered care at the age of seven and was in several different placements throughout her teens but is now using her experience to drive her passion for social justice.
“It made me who I am today – I can understand what people have been through and my experiences have made me stronger,” she said.
While statistics show children who have had an out-of-home care experience, (foster, kinship or residential care), are more likely to be undereducated and become homeless, Ms Boyd hasn’t let that stop her.
“I believe every young person has potential, they just need someone to believe in them,” she said. “For anyone in a tough situation right now, I would tell them that although it hurts at the moment, things will get better and they just need to make the most of every opportunity.”
Ms Boyd is studying a Diploma of Youth Work and plans to become a lawyer and help people who have come from similar situations as herself.
“I want to advocate for people who have been victims of crime or people who don’t have a voice,” she said. “I want to make being in care a better experience for the next lot of young people who go through that.”
Ms Boyd also acts as a young consultant for the Create Foundation, a nation-wide body that represents the voices of children and young people in out-of-home care.
This is in the lead-up to Child Protection Week Protection week from September 7-13.
Read more online at mandurahmail.com.au
