My name is Chris Martin & I’ve been a mentor with the PCYC Braking the Cycle driving programme in Toowoomba for more than six years. During that period, I have accumulated around 2,800 hours of student training, and have been involved in many of the 400 plus successful licences achieved, by students here, learning in the programme.
“Why do I do it, I hear you ask?” There are quite a few facets to answer this question. For a start, many of our students come from different cultural backgrounds, such as Sudan, Nepal, Yazidi – from Iraq & Iran (to name but a few), as well, of course, as our local Aussie teenagers.
Although I have more than 60 years of driving experience, to impart to them, I also learn a lot from these students about their own cultures & it gives me an opportunity to impart more of our own. They also teach me a lot about the world my own grandchildren are growing up in and help me understand the very different, and sometimes complicated issues they face in these modern times. So it’s not just a one way thing there is multi varied learning on both sides.
Some of the students come from quite challenging backgrounds & it a pleasure to see their level of positivity change as they succeed, in various steps along the 100 hour road to gaining their P licence.
The programme also has very valuable benefits for the community at large, as some of the students are on un-employment benefits, and most of them, once they gain their licences are able to venture into employment or study pathways, which has very positive outcome for both themselves and the community. For instance, quite a few of the Yazidi female students want to go into nursing, a much needed vocation, in an aging population.
I only volunteer for a couple of sessions each day of the week, but find it tremendously enjoyable and full of positive outcomes. Would I do it again, certainly! Would I recommended the programme to other potential mentors, definitely – so get involved.
Learn more about becoming a PCYC volunteer below.
