Local youth festival coming soon

It’s time to celebrate and acknowledge our youth with the ‘Class of 09 Youth Republic Youth Festival’ being held during national youth week in May.

The last festival was in 2007 and was a roaring success and this year’s event is going to be even bigger. This year’s programme will run from 23 – 31 May and includes a “Super School” competition run by Sport Waikato; art and culture workshops run by Taupo Youth Arts Trust and Active Arts; modelling and self defence workshops run by REAP; 3 concerts featuring national and local youth talent; Formula One Challenge driving skills competition; and various other events and activities organised by Taupo Venues, a festival youth committee and Café for Youth Health.

The objective of Youth Week is to create a society which values young people by focusing on the amazing things they do. The festival is organised in conjunction with local youth and are designed to be accessible, inspiring and empowering for 12 to 18 year-olds and to encourage them to participate and connect with their community in a positive and rewarding way.

Council’s Community Projects Officer Jenny Steadman, who is coordinating the festival said, “A big thank you to the local young people and community organisations who are working really hard to ensure there is a varied and exciting programme for the youth.”

Thank you to the partners and sponsors involved this year including Taupo Youth Arts Trust, Café for Youth Health, the Festival Youth Committee, Sport Waikato, REAP, Taupo Venues, Taupo Library, Creative Taupo, Lion Foundation, !@M3, More FM, The Edge and Taupo District Council.