Thousands of Young NZers Celebrate Youth Week 2010

YOUTH WEEK 2010 PRESS RELEASE

**EMBARGOED UNTIL 5PM SUNDAY 23 MAY**

Thousands of Young New Zealanders Celebrate Youth Week 2010

From Te Kao in the Far North, to Invercargill in the Deep South – this week thousands of young New Zealanders are heading out into their communities to celebrate Youth Week 2010.

“Connecting young people with their families is both the focus and challenge for Youth Week this year,” says Youth Week 2010 coordinator, Trina King, Executive Director of the NZ Aotearoa Adolescent Health and Development.

“Young people have told us that family is really important to them. We encourage adults everywhere to strengthen relationships with young people in their families”

This year, Youth Week has an additional focus on reducing the harm of alcohol for young people, their families and communities.

ALAC Chief Executive Officer Gerard Vaughan says young people are a positive force for improving the health and wellbeing of their communities,

“Youth Week provides young people a platform to engage with their communities. We have supported over fifty events nationally that allow young people to creatively address the negative impacts of alcohol on the lives of them and the people they care about.”

Alcohol has been the subject of recent public debate following on from the release of the Law Commission’s report Alcohol in Our Lives, and the recent tragic death of a high school student.

“Alcohol is an issue for all New Zealanders, not just young people. Young people are better off when families and society create a healthy environment with a responsible approach to alcohol.”

Youth Week is supported by a strong network of organisations that work to support young New Zealanders and connect them positively with their families and communities.

“Young people with an intellectual disability have the same issues as any other young person says Caroline Barnes, National Manager Volunteering IHC New Zealand.

“Having a meaningful place in society and being connected with your family creates a sense of wellbeing. Young people share the same issues regardless of who they are- inclusion, meaningful connections and a sense of wellbeing".

Parents and caregivers are the first and most important sexuality educators of their children says Jackie Edmond, Family Planning chief executive.

“Research shows that parents talking with their children can raise the age young people become sexually active, reduce the likelihood of unplanned pregnancy, and lower the likelihood of young people contracting sexually transmissible infections.”

Ms Edmond says when parents talk openly and honestly about issues such as virginity and teenage pregnancy and when they respect each other's viewpoints: they model good relationship skills. In doing this adults help young people develop their own attitudes and values.

Youth Week is supported by ALAC, Te Ora Hou, Family Planning, Families Commission, Ministry of Youth Development, IHC, NZ Drug Foundation, Smokefree, Skylight, Barnardos, Age Concern, the Mayors Taskforce, The Lowdown, the Vodafone Foundation, Tearaway and Girlfriend Magazine

For more information please:

Visit our website to find out about events and young people in your community:

http://www.youthweek.co.nz

ENDS

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