Gisborne youth get $35,000 government funding
Monday 5 July 2010, 12:34PM
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Gisborne District Council has been successful in its joint application with Tairāwhiti Youth Voice for $35,000 of the Government’s Youth Development Fund.
Council’s Community Development Team leader, Judy Livingston, has welcomed the funding. “In January Tairāwhiti Youth Voice (TYV) agreed take on the role of representing the views of Tairāwhiti youth and advising Council on matters that affect our young people. To do this effectively Council needs to partner with TYV to help them grow the skills of its members and its capacity to be effective.”
TYV Chairperson Rory McCourt thanked the council for its support in acquiring the funding. “This will assist the on-going development of TYV so that we can better represent and advocate for the youth of this region.”
A project called Rangatahi Unite has been put together which aims to develop young leaders that can bring local youth together to actively work on the issues that affect them. This may be within individual communities or on a regional level. The Youth Development funding will be used to support this project and contribute towards employing a part time coordinator.
“We need to help young people develop their skills to advocate effectively with decision makers in this region. To represent all youth in the region they need to learn how to consult effectively with their peers and make relevant submissions. This funding will help this to happen,” Ms Livingston added.
Minister of Youth Affairs Paula Bennett congratulated the Council and TYV on being chosen to receive funding to support youth development in the region. “I am excited the Ministry can support initiatives like this that involve, challenge and encourage young people. It’s fantastic to see these projects benefiting young people from communities around the country. They offer a huge range of opportunities, through activities that support enterprise, research, team challenges, participation, and development of youth resources.”
The Youth Development fund itself is aimed at improving outcomes for young people aged 12-24 through effective youth development practice in communities. Round six focuses on projects that support training, education, employment outcomes through developing youth community leadership and celebrating the achievements of young people. Rangitahi Unite aligns well with those priorities. In the first year of funding a project group will be established and training and development workshops organised. TYV plan to facilitate a number of consultation events and develop a programme of work.
Mayor Meng Foon believes that developing role models and future leaders will benefit both Council and the wider community. “Our region is youthful. We have the highest proportion of under 15’s in the country. My participation in youth forums and events continue to reaffirm that we have a great future here in Tairāwhiti. Encouraging our young people to participate positively in Council’s decision-making processes has to be good for our future. Governance training and appointing a coordinator to help TYV drive through changes that will make a difference to youth is a good start. The government funding means that this can happen without any costs to ratepayers.”
TYV is a group of young people who got together to make a positive difference in our community by working with Council and being part of the solution. TYV has youth councils in Uawa and Ruatoria, as well as Gisborne and they are keen to work with more young people throughout the Tairāwhiti region. If anyone wants to join the Youth Council, contact Ngarimu Simpkins on 06 867 2049.