Hawaii Meth Project Seeking Advisory Council Members

The Hawaii Meth Project is now accepting applications for its Teen Advisory Council for the 2014-15 school year.

All high school students entering grades 9 through 12 for the upcoming school year and attending public, private, and home schools statewide are eligible for the 20 available positions.

Each member will serve for one term concurrent with the school year, from July 2014 to June 2015.

During their terms, Teen Advisory Council members will have the opportunity to lead and facilitate outreach in their schools and communities across the state, Hawaii Meth Project officials said in a press release. They will be charged with raising awareness about the importance of methamphetamine prevention, especially among Hawaii’s youth.

“Students are vital to our outreach efforts and we are so appreciative of their dedication to the Hawaii Meth Project’s mission to prevent meth use in Hawaii,” said David Earles, executive director of the Hawaii Meth Project.

“Teen Advisory Council members provide us with direct connections to their peers and a crucial channel to communicate our message to teens statewide,” Earles said. “By engaging in peer-to-peer outreach, these teens are able to practice their communication and professional skills while making a positive difference in their own communities.”

Project officials said building communication skills is key for current and future Teen Advisory Council members, as they will be asked to participate in monthly conference calls and contribute to group brainstorming sessions on how to most effectively relay to teens the Hawaii Meth Project’s key message of “Not Even Once.” Teen Advisory Council members will be expected to lead by example and perpetuate the importance of living a drug-free lifestyle.

A member of the Teen Advisory Council from Oahu described her term on the council as “a rewarding and memorable experience” and said she would highly recommend the experience.

Kehaulani Likio. Hawaii Meth Project photo.

“I can honestly say that this opportunity has provided me with an avenue to better understand and communicate with my peers,” said Kehaulani Likio, a senior at University Laboratory School. “My only regret is not getting involved earlier with the Hawaii Meth Project.”

Prospective members will be asked to dedicate from 10 to 20 hours of volunteer service work each month.

Selected candidates must be available to attend a mandatory training session on Oahu June 18-20 (travel expenses will be covered).

Teens interested in applying to be a part of the 2014–2015 Teen Advisory Council must complete an official application, which can be found online at http://hawaiimethproject.org/About-Us/teen-council.php.

The completed application along with two letters of reference must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30 by email to Georgi@hawaiimethproject.org, or faxed to (808) 356-8645.