DURING Saturday night’s Showdown with Adelaide, 10 students of Port Adelaide’s Empowering Youth program will get a once-in-a-lifetime game day experience.

The students will have a meet and greet with members of Port’s playing group, and be out on a packed Adelaide Oval for the team entry and ‘Never Tear Us Apart’.

The Empowering Youth Program - supported by Variety SA and the Department of Education - is in place to target disengaged youth and help them recognise the importance of an education.

Port Adelaide’s Youth Programs Manager Jake Battifuoco says it’s a wonderful opportunity for the club to reward students who have committed to the program.

“Through our partnership with Variety SA, we can provide this game day experience at the Showdown for the Empowering Youth students,” he said.

“Many have not, or may not ever, get the opportunity to see a game at Adelaide Oval.

“It’s just a little gesture from us to keep encouraging all students involved.

“They have shown significant growth throughout the program and it is a credit to their ongoing commitment.”

15-year-old Lachlan who attends Henley High School, will be one of the students who will get the game day experience in Showdown XLVI, and he says the program has had a very positive impact on his life.

“It’s good for me because it gets me out of my shell,” he said.

“Before I started Empowering Youth, I didn’t like to talk to anyone. I was very shy.

“Now it has allowed me to talk a lot more and have confidence in myself.”

The 15-year-old says his passion for school has risen as a result of being in the program.

“I used to hate school. I really did,” he said.

“Now that I do this, it gives me a real boost to stay in school and finish it.

“My attendance at school was really bad in the past.

“I had like 50 per cent, now I am sitting on 100 per cent after the Empowering Youth program.”