I’m sitting here, trying desperately to think of words that would sum up the last two and a half months on the road. There are a thousand things I could say, but that may bore you. So I’m going to try and describe what has happened.

Two months ago, my friend Jessica and I are sitting on a stage, staring at 600 pairs of eyes looking expectantly at us. We smile big, hoping to look confident and then the first notes of our keyboards reverberate throughout the hall. Three and a half minutes later, the hall is filled with applause and cheers. We both take a deep breath.

They like us, we think. This is good.

Forty minutes later, we are standing at our promotional table in the back, surrounded by hundreds of eager students who want to know more about who we are, why we’re at their school and how they can help the people of Papua New Guinea.

At this very school, I encountered a student that gave me hope for young people everywhere. She was shy and soft spoken but determined to help.

While I stood outside talking to a group of students about different bands, she approached the group and waited patiently until the conversation came to a lull. I stuck out my hand to introduce myself, which she took gingerly while looking at the pavement.

“You know that card that we filled out,” she started. At every program, we hand out cards that the students can fill out so we can send them more information on PNG.

“Yeah,” I said. “Did you fill one out?” I asked. She pushed her glasses up her nose and shifted her backpack.

“Uh huh.”

“Great!” I said, thinking that she just wanted me to know she had responded.

“Well, like, are you going to actually let me help?” she asked boldly. This being our first school, I had not yet encountered such frankness and was unsure of how to answer her.

“Uh…of course,” I stammered. “If you gave your information, we’ll definitely send you more info on how you can help the people in PNG.”

“Yeah…” she continued, unconvinced. “But I’m not, like, too young right? Like, you’re not going to wait until I’m 18 or something? I can help right away?”

I was overwhelmed at this young girls’ need to make sure she was heard. I assured her as much as I could, not knowing what else do to but to give her my word that we would be in touch. She finally walked away, thanking me for coming to her school. As I watched her shuffle back to class, I had a thought.

These kids, these teenagers…they really want to make a difference.

That was just the first school of 80 that our teams visited these past months and we have concluded, with a resounding YES; these young people want to help. They’re not just eager, but desperate to make a change.

If you don’t know whether or not teenagers are worth investing in, I’m telling you to start looking. They are our next politicians, our lawmakers, our teachers, our servicemen. While we still can, let’s show them that they’re worth it.

Thanks to all of you who made it possible for us to travel around the country. You have given life to young Australians and to the needy in Papua New Guinea. For this, we are all grateful beyond words.

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