Youth Week 2009 – It’s All About Making Time

Wednesday 20 May 2009

Youth Week 2009 – It’s All About Making Time

The Foundation for Youth Development is encouraging all New Zealanders to show their support for young people by getting involved in Youth Week 2009 which runs from 23 – 31 May.

This year’s theme is ‘make time for youth’ and through its programmes (Kiwi Can, Stars and Project K), the Foundation sees, on a daily basis, just what a positive change an injection of time, encouragement and support can make.

The Foundation is working hard and taking time to ensure young people are actively engaged in the development of its own programmes. To achieve this, a Youth Advisory Group (Directionz) has been established in the Auckland region as a one-year-pilot programme.

Invitations to apply were sent to 900 young people involved in the Foundation’s three programmes. Twelve members, aged between 11 and 17, were selected representing seven different cultures, nine different schools and three Auckland regions. Members were chosen for their creativity, innovation and motivation.

Directionz meets monthly to identify and work on projects that will make the biggest difference for young people taking part in Foundation for Youth Development activities. The aim of the group is to maximise members’ potential in individual and community pursuits as well as contribute to programme development as a whole.

“Youth participation and contribution are critical for organisational and societal success and hinge on adults taking the time to listen,” says Graeme Dingle, Foundation for Youth Development Co-Founder and Mountaineer.

“Directionz gives members the chance to take a leading role in issues that affect them. It is all about young people, working together to help their peers and maximise youth development, leadership and social skills.

“With the pressures of the current economic times and associated stress in the home, we all need to be doubly vigilant that we are spending that precious and invaluable commodity – time – with our young people, offering them support and listening to what they have to say,” he says.

According to Kiwi Can student James Witchman, 12, from Robertson Road School in Mangere, it’s the friendships that are important.

“I value the friendships I've made in Directionz. I'm learning the importance of being positive because when I'm positive it's easier for others to stay positive. The project we are working on is giving me a lot of useful new knowledge and my aim is to achieve all the goals we have set,” he says.

For Project K student, Sing Jia Tie, 15, from Northcote College, it’s about communication and trust.

“Through participation in Directionz, I'm not only meeting new people and gaining new skills, I'm also learning a lot more about New Zealand culture. The group work in Directionz is helping me to improve my communication skills and I am much more willing to put my trust in people.”

For more information on Youth Week 2009 and events please visit www.youthweek.org.nz.

For more information on the Foundation for Youth Development please visit www.fyd.org.nz.

Caption: The Foundation for Youth Development Youth Advisory Group – “Directionz”

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