For seven weeks between July 12 and October 8, local youth will join Rick "Ozzy" Osborne rebuilding a motorcycle as part of a project created to help reach and engage at risk youth.
The project, started by the Greater Sudbury Police Service, brought in Osborne to teach youth that "redemption is possible," while engaging youth through a non-traditional activity that is fun and teaches youth trades skills, a press release from the police stated.
Over the seven weeks, youth will help disassemble the motorcycle, then rebuild and customize it. The finished bike will be raffled off, with the proceeds going to the Chief's Youth Initiative Fund.
According to the press release, similar projects that involve youth intervention, peer mentoring and gang suppression have had “tremendous success” in other communities.
Osborne spends his time speaking with youth about the realities of drugs and gang life, while engaging the youth in community projects. He was last in Sudbury in April, when he shared his story with NorthernLife.ca.
He became addicted to drugs when he was in his teens and by the time he was 20 years old, had a Canada-wide warrant. By 21, he was in prison.
While spending the following 23 years in jail, Osborne went to rehab programs and kicked his drug habit and earned a degree from Queen's University. After leaving jail, Osborne began working with at-risk youth.
For more on how this project is impacting local youth, check out Northern Life's August edition of Wheels.
