YOUTH living in Adelaide’s north are being encouraged to seize opportunities in education and employment thanks to Power Community Ltd’s Empowering Youth program.

With the youth unemployment rate of some areas in Adelaide’s northern suburbs sitting at more than 17 per cent, the impending closure of Holden’s car manufacturing plant is set to challenge families living in the area.

However, the Empowering Youth program is aiming to make a difference to the lives of students living in the area.

The Port Adelaide Football Club received $50,000 from the State Government to run programs at schools in the northern suburbs from this semester and developed the 10-week Empowering Youth program for students attending Northern Adelaide Senior College, Salisbury East High School, Mark Oliphant College and Harbour View Campus.

The program is run fortnightly for 3-4 hours during school hours and includes lessons and mentoring by Port Adelaide Football Club players, in a hope to spark student interest in study and work.

“The focus is down there as they are facing some very challenging times with the closure of Holden," says Port Adelaide community programs officer Lisa Kennedy.

"For us it’s about breaking the cycle and encouraging youth they can have a different future and achieve some very good things.

“The students have been very engaged and we’ve had very good feedback regarding the best attendance on the days we come out and changes in the students behaviour."

As part of the Empowering Youth program, students undertake classes in goal setting, well-being, confidence, health and time management.

“You feel privileged [to participate in the program] because they have a lot of information to give you, a lot of useful information that I want to use in my career”, Northern Adelaide Senior College student Billy Wright McCann says.

Port Adelaide has agreed to bring the Empowering Youth program to eight schools over the next financial year.