By Soniya Selvaraju, Psychologist, Centre for Positive Recovery.
Pictured: Epworth beneficiary trying out the role of a firefighter at KidZania.
Led by the Centre for Positive Recovery, Project Catapult supported children who had completed trauma recovery programmes. The project focused on building resilience, confidence, and purpose among the children. It provided a safe and structured environment for continued growth.
Each child was paired with a volunteer mentor. Monthly Mentor-Mentee engagement sessions created consistency and trust. Mentors offered guidance, encouragement and steady support. Together, they set goals and explored new interests. Over time, the children began to share their hopes more openly.
The children also attended interest-based activities. These included singing lessons, cooking camps and art classes. Through these experiences, they discovered strengths they did not know they had. Confidence grew alongside new skills. Children who were once quiet began to participate more actively. Many looked forward to each session with excitement.
A key highlight was the learning journey to KidZania. The trip allowed each child to explore different career roles. Some shared their dreams of becoming firefighters. Others spoke about becoming bankers or healthcare assistants. One child said “I did not know I could become a firefighter”. Another reflected, “Maybe I can become a banker one day”. In that moment, confidence replaced doubt. For the first time, their dreams felt real.
As a staff member, I had the privilege of seeing the children blossom through mentorship. They spoke with greater confidence and set clearer goals for the future. They began to believe in themselves. These moments showed me the difference mentoring had made in their lives.
Sometimes, one caring adult can change a child’s story. Project Catapult showed that mentoring works. It creates safety, builds hope, and opens doors. Project Catapult was not only about recovery. It was about helping each child believe in what is possible. The programme has ended, but the growth continues. Our team remains committed to creating opportunities for every child to discover their potential and purpose.
