Graduating from a Salvation Army course last night are students (from left) Brooke Farrell (17) with son Sidnie (22 months), Reiarna McCormack (17) with Jessica Garden (4 months), Sarah Cross (19) with family friend Sasha Harris (2) and Courtney Ward (19) with son Jayden Kinns (10 months).
Salvation Army education and employment counsellor Michelle Inwood said 10 students graduated after finishing a 40-week programme.
"We work with the most troubled youth in Dunedin ... the youth who have slipped through the cracks of the schooling system.''
The students, aged between 16 and 19, graduated with level 1 and 2 NCEA qualifications in early childhood education, auto trades, hospitality and tourism, Miss Inwood said.
Many of those graduating from the early childhood education qualification were girls who became mothers when they were aged between 15 and 17.
Miss Inwood wanted to acknowledge how hard the students had worked for their qualifications.
"They've pulled through, even with the multiple challenges they've faced throughout their lives.''
