The importance of purpose

We all have a fundamental need for community and purpose. Stephanie Byrne says when young people are connected to networks in the community and engage with a wider sense of belonging and achievement, they become more resilient and can begin to flourish.  

In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl reflects on his time as a prisoner at Auschwitz. Frankl was a psychiatrist and during his time at the concentration camp observed, “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.”

Frankl’s insights ring true in my experience with Fusion Australia; a Christian youth and community organisation that emerged as a creative response to socially-at-risk young people in the 1960s. Today, Fusion is an organisation that equips local people to make a real lasting change to people within their own communities. Because the needs of young people differ from community to community, no two Fusion Centres are the same.

I am involved with the team at Fusion Mornington Peninsula. Fusion Mornington Peninsula provides housing, youth programs and community support. Across the movement, our work is underpinned by the philosophy that all people have a fundamental need for community and purpose. Fusion’s programs seek to connect young people to networks in the community and engage them with a wider sense of belonging and achievement. Located in the old Army Barracks in Mt Martha, the housing service is available to young people experiencing homelessness aged 15–21 years. The team of youth mentors and case workers share life with the young people and role models positive choices.

The program aims to connect residents to services and networks in the community that engage them with their own internal narrative and a wider sense of belonging and achievement. As Frankl’s theory suggests, as young people become in touch with their community and purpose, we see them become resilient young people who begin to flourish.

The importance of a healthy and caring community to nurture each new generation has led the organisation into extensive community work. It is now our vision to bring young people and their communities together with hope. One of the ways this happens nationally is with the event “Sleep In Your Car”.

Sleep In Your Car started a few years ago at the Fusion Western Sydney centre when the team saw someone sleeping in their car in front of the centre. The now national awareness- and fundraiser brings all walks of life from the community together, providing community and purpose. Community members are invited to come and hear the stories and learn what it means to be a young person experiencing homelessness. Community members can respond to this information by giving up their bed for the night to raise finances to support the local organisations responding to young people experiencing homelessness.

For more information on Sleep In Your Car head to www.sleepinyourcar.com.au and for more information on Fusion Australia head to www.fusion.org.au.