Media Release – 04/05/20
Kawerau Youth Joining Forces
During the Covid-19 lockdown many Kawerau youth have been banding together to provide essential support and services for the Kawerau community.
Over the last month they’ve planned and organised an Easter Competition, delivered 50 Kai Care Hampers for families in need and the elderly, joined forces with Kawerau Blue Light to provide a shopping delivery service for vulnerable locals, and soon will be running a fitness challenge competition to encourage wellbeing through physical activity.
Kawerau Youth Council and Kawerau Future Leaders members have been meeting online regularly to discuss and plan innovative ways in how local youth can still support the community, and provide service. They are currently working towards creating an online space for Kawerau Youth to meet and talk, share ideas, have fun and socialise.
Kawerau District Council Youth Projects Officer, John Rika said -“It’s been tough for many youth in our town, spending a lot of their time at home, confined within their houses. So if there are any opportunities out there where youth can get out of the house and do something that’s positive and constructive whilst maintaining the correct safety measures, then we need to think about more creative and innovative ways to make that happen.”
Soon Kawerau Youth Council and Kawerau Future Leaders will collaborate towards is a new and creative approach to the Kawerau Young Achievers Awards 2020, which is scheduled to take place in late August and the Youth Inspire 2020 Event which is scheduled to be delivered in late October.
One of the most recent youth initiatives that has had a positive impact on the local community is the Kai Care Hampers.
Kawerau Future Leaders Local Coach Marlena Martin managed to secured funding from the Ministry of Social Development, and support from Eastbay REAP, Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau Hauora and Kawerau Youth Council to deliver the Kai Care Hamper project.
Miss Martin says “Words can’t describe how heartwarming it was to deliver care hampers to our community, thank you to all of our sponsors for the privilege of making it possible for our Kawerau youth to do this”.
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