Is providing a limited and dwindling welfare system the best we as a society can offer a vast majority of young people in this the lucky country of Australia? (Or indeed the UK or USA?)
One man thought not so. He went about proving his premise that regardless of their history, their socio-economic or educational background, if you provide young people with two vital ingredients, they will find the third within themselves to succeed and go from being a tax burden to contributing members of society.
Paul McKessy created an organization in Australia that saw more than 1,200 of some of the toughest kids go from being unemployable to become contributing members of society with a staggering 97% success rate into jobs when at the time the National average success rate of getting long term unemployed into and staying in jobs was 26%
Many of the young people were some of the most disadvantaged in the country, drug affected, victims of sexual abuse, homeless, early school leavers, ex-prisoners, living with multiple disabilities who went on to break the cycles which had them trapped in the past and proved what was possible when you provide young people with the opportunity and the know how and support to succeed.
Welfare vs Opportunity is a must read for any young person who ever doubted themselves or parents, teachers, youth workers, employers, politicians or anyone that believes our children truly are our future.
This book is a breakthrough in thinking and contributes to how we as a society treat our most vulnerable young people.
With the advent of the internet, e-commerce, direct sales and a myriad of other post-technology industries there has never been a greater time to provide opportunities for everyone.
Welfare vs Opportunity shows with the correct political will, a willingness to do some things radically differently and provide young people with opportunity not welfare, everybody and society as a whole reap the benefits.
