Ilker Deli knows the Dareton Youth and Community Centre will be the reason disadvantaged local youth discover their worth, talents, and purpose. That’s because a youth centre near his family home in Hanover, Germany, once changed the course of his own life.  

  "I got a lot of guidance from the youth centre that I attended as a young person," Ilker said. "The leadership directed me in the right way. I didn't have much guidance growing up; I will forever be grateful for the people who showed me the right way. I'm trying to pass that on to the kids here." 

  God has used Ilker's journey as a teenager to prepare him to lead this ministry in Dareton and provide a safe and nurturing place for young people in the area – many of whom are in desperate need of this kind of support. 

  "My greatest desire is to show these young people that there are people out there who care, and that they (the young people) matter."  

  The youth centre is an afternoon drop-in centre for youth to hang out, play games, engage in activities, and help prepare a nutritious meal to eat before they return home. With the help of a few volunteers, Ilker runs this almost every afternoon.  

  Recently, Ilker secured a grant from the government to provide a program for "Youth Week" over the April school holidays. They took a group of young people out to the cinema, provided a BBQ at the park, and hosted cooking, gardening, and art programs. During this time 17 young people joined in, 10 of whom were new to the centre.  

  "We wanted to spoil the youth a little bit for the week," Ilker said. "We're trying to get a bit more interaction and engagement with them and encourage them in exploring their talents." 

  Currently, the governance of this ministry is shifting from being directly funded by GMP to becoming its own entity, governed by five to seven people from the local church and community. This move is strategic and will enable the centre to apply for larger government grants as they develop into the future.  

  "I just want to lay the foundation and make sure this place stays open for as long as possible," Ilker said, as he shared his dreams of developing their centre with a large outdoor covered area for a workshop. "My biggest goal, though, is to have a male and female who attend here to take over from me one day." 

  Ilker welcomes you to pray for the centre during this transition of governance, so this ministry can make a lasting impact on the lives of the youth of Dareton. 

You can also support the youth centre and make a tax-deductible donation via GMP Extend www.extend.org.au 

Article written by Josh Gibbon, Churches of Christ NSW & ACT