In the midst of the confronting spike in youth crime in Townsville, Kate King can’t help but remember the voices that told her she’d be one of those statistics too.
At 18, Kate had experienced more heartache than most adults. With a family background immersed in depression, alcohol, drugs, divorce, and abuse, the odds were stacked against her. Kate was born to a family filled with instability. Her mother was a drug addict, while her biological father was physically and emotionally abusive. Growing up, Kate was often told by family members that she would not amount to anything.
Kate soon realised that her life was meant for more than beer bottles and started to get proactive by sharing her story with younger girls she knew. By realising the significance of her story, Kate was able to positively influence the young teens around her including her three siblings.
“I realised that if my story could touch one person then it could make a big difference with many more,” says Kate.
Sometimes people do not realise how much of a fight it can be for youth to maintain their identity when they lack positive role models in their lives. This is where Kate shines.
She now lives and works in the Garbutt – West End area as a full time volunteer with Youth with a Mission (YWAM), giving her time to mentor, encourage, and empower Townsville youth.
“These teens are a part of my family,” Kate says, “They are like my brothers and sisters. I want to be a stable person in their lives and show them that they can be someone amazing.”
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