Reba's Story
When Areeftha (Reba) first attended a Youth Insearch program in February 2008, she had just turned 14.
Over the next decade, Youth Insearch became a community that helped shape her sense of self, her confidence and the person she would become. By the time she completed her leadership training in 2010, Reba had participated in an extraordinary 94 Youth Insearch programs.
Today, at 32 years old, she reflects not on the number of programs she attended, but on the people she met and the influence they continue to have on her life.
"Those programs… they were never just programs to me. They were where I found pieces of myself. Where people believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. Where mentors became family."
Like many young people who come through Youth Insearch, Reba arrived searching for connection, belonging and support. What she found was a network of peers, volunteers and mentors who invested their time and energy in helping young people recognise their own strengths and potential.
"I don't think they knew that years later I'd still carry their words around with me. That I'd still hear their voices in my head telling me to keep going. That I'd still find myself making decisions because of something they taught me years ago."
Today, Reba is based at Uluru, where she works full-time with Voyages Tourism as both a Training Assessor and Learning Support and Education Coordinator, helping young people from across Australia build skills and pathways into employment. Recently named runner-up for Student of the Year at both the GTNT Awards and the Northern Territory Awards, she now supports others on journeys similar to her own.
Music has long been woven into the fabric of Youth Insearch's Weekend Workshops, creating opportunities for young people to reflect, connect with their emotions and share their experiences in a safe and supportive environment. For many participants, those songs become deeply associated with moments of personal growth, belonging and connection.
More than a decade after first walking through the doors of a Youth Insearch program, Reeba still finds herself transported back to those moments whenever certain songs play.
"It's crazy how a song can hold so many people. How three or four minutes can carry years of memories."
Those moments remind her of something powerful: the lasting impact that caring adults and supportive peers can have on a young person's life.
"I'm lucky to have been loved by people who probably don't even realise how much they changed my life. Lucky to have found places that felt like home. Lucky to have had mentors who became my biggest cheerleaders."
Reba's story speaks to something Youth Insearch has witnessed for over four decades: when young people experience genuine connection, belonging and support, the effects ripple far beyond the individual. The outcomes unfold over years, influencing not only individual lives but the communities around them. What begins as support for one young person can become a legacy of resilience, empathy and connection that continues long after the program ends.
Reflecting on her journey, Reba's gratitude remains with the people who stepped forward to support her when she needed it most. Even today, living and working in the Northern Territory, she keeps reminders of Youth Insearch with her.
"It's a warm reminder of Youth Insearch that it's still there."
And while her Youth Insearch journey is far from over, her gratitude remains with the people who stepped forward to support her when she needed it most.
"Who I am today… isn't just because of me. It's because of every person who took the time to pour into a young person who needed it."
*This story is shared in the person’s own words to preserve authenticity, including original grammar & language.
