The Hawaii Meth Project is accepting applications for its Teen Advisory Council for the 2012-2013 school year. Members of the council promote and facilitate peer outreach through a variety of activities in their schools and communities. The Hawaii Meth Project
The Hawaii Meth Project is accepting applications for its Teen Advisory Council for the 2012-2013 school year. Members of the council promote and facilitate peer outreach through a variety of activities in their schools and communities.
Twelve to 15 students who will be incoming juniors and seniors in the 2012-2013 school year will be selected for this year’s council.
Public and private high school students representing all counties are eligible to apply for consideration. Each member will serve for one year concurrent with the school year, from August to June 2013.
Members of the Teen Advisory Council play a critical role in the Hawaii Meth Project’s community action programs. By encouraging teen volunteerism and spearheading outreach opportunities in their schools and communities, Hawaii Meth Project Teen Advisory Council members raise awareness about the dangers and risks of methamphetamine, ultimately helping reduce meth use in Hawaii.
“My experience as a member of the Hawaii Meth Project’s Teen Advisory Council has been very rewarding and I’ve learned a lot, including improving my leadership, communication, and organizational skills,” said Kelsie Ferguson, teen council member and a senior at Kamehemeha Schools. “But what’s really important to me is I feel like I have been able to make a difference in my school and community. Meth is a really dangerous drug, and if we can stop people from using it, we can save lives.”
Teen Advisory Council members will be required to advise and consult with Hawaii Meth Project staff, help plan and initiate community and school events, and participate in monthly conference calls.
They will be involved in a wide variety of community activities, including recruiting teen volunteers to staff booths at local events, organizing public education activities at their own schools, and interacting with their peers via Facebook and other social media efforts.
Other initiatives by Teen Advisory Council members include placing Hawaii Meth Project print ads in school newspapers, hosting fundraisers, partnering with other school groups to organize Meth awareness activities, and holding school assemblies to talk about the dangers of Meth use. Council members also give invaluable feedback to the Hawaii Meth Project’s leadership, providing a teen perspective on the Project’s public education activities.
Applicants must have an email address for group communications, be willing to check email regularly, and be able to attend a one-day training session in Honolulu during the summer. Teens interested in applying must complete an official application, available online at Hawaii.Methproject.org/Get-Involved/teen-council. Parental consent is required.
Completed application and letters of reference, one from a teacher or coach and one from a community or business leader, must be submitted via fax at (808) 356-8644, or emailed to ctakeda@hawaiimethproject.org by Friday, June 29, at midnight. The Hawaii Meth Project is solely responsible for selecting candidates.
The Hawaii Meth Project is a nonprofit organization that implements large-scale, research-based campaigns and community action programs to reduce methamphetamine use in the state. Central to its integrated campaigns is MethProject.org—a definitive source for information about Meth for teens. The Hawaii Meth Project is affiliated with the Meth Project, a national non-profit organization headquartered in Palo Alto, California, aimed at significantly reducing Meth use through public service messaging, public policy, and community outreach. For more information, visit HawaiiMethProject.org.
