Lalor Park youths who don’t have access to the internet at home will have a safe environment they can go to where they can use the internet for free.
An internet cafe for people aged 12-24 was officially opened by Blacktown Youth Services Association’s drop-in centre, which is part of Lalor Park Community Centre.
The initiative aims to deliver a series of workshops to assist young people in gaining employment and educational opportunities. Natalie Chiappazzo, service provision manager at the association, said this was a wonderful initiative for youths in the area.
”Having the internet cafe here will be an asset for the young people in the Lalor Park community,” she said. ”The opportunities this cafe will create will be plentiful, including several arts and cultural programs, community events and vocational training opportunities.”
The project has been funded through Community Foundation of North Western Sydney and Officeworks, Castle Hill.
It has also been welcomed by local groups including Common Groundz Community Cafe, The Art Club, and also TAFE NSW and Blacktown Council.
The foundation’s secretary, Bill Dixon (who played a major role in setting up the cafe), and Blacktown Labor councillor Leo Kelly were at the opening. The internet cafe will be open on Tuesdays from 3pm-6pm and Thursdays from noon-3pm.
Officeworks Castle Hill has for some time been anxious to be involved in being recognised as part of and contributing to the Community in which we do business.
“When we were approached by the Community Foundation of North Western Sydney to partner with themselves and Blacktown Youth Services Association to set up an Internet Cafe to help the Disadvantaged within our community, we saw it as an opportunity beneficial to all parties and in line with our philosophy of being involved in the Community.”
