Final get together for 2007 youth council

Members of the Taupo District Youth Council came together for the last time yesterday evening at the Taupo Yacht Club to acknowledge and celebrate their achievements over the last year.

Chris Swney, Youth Council Chairman said that it had been a busy year and a successful one for the Youth Council. “The team has really worked well together to achieve a number of important projects for the community relating to youth.”

“It has been awesome to be able to give something back to the community,” he said.

Projects that the Youth Council have rolled out this year include the Taupo District Youth Festival, the ‘Smokefree’ survey, a base for the Youth Drug and Alcohol Co-ordinator, the ‘Kids R Unbeatable’ campaign, library youth-friendly initiative, short films and working with a number of community groups and organisations who are wanting a youth perspective.

The group have also been involved with the Ministry of Social Development regarding youth services, planning and community mapping and have assisted Council Officers with surveys regarding youth activities and programmes and youth issues throughout the District.

The Youth Council was formed to encourage youth participation in civic affairs and provide a voice and direction on youth issues. There have been 21 members of the Youth Council between the ages of 12 and 19 years old with representatives from local schools and education facilities. The young people were selected to be a part of the Youth Council by their school and met every 4 weeks throughout the school year.

Deputy Mayor Christine McElwee and Councillor Kathryn Uvhagen have provided support and guidance to the Youth Council throughout the year and have been very pleased with the youngster’s contribution.

“Taupo Youth Council provides real hands-on opportunities for Youth Councillors to learn leadership skills. It's been great observing our future leaders learn the ropes of democratic decision making during their monthly meetings in the Council Chamber, and then go out and implement those decisions,” said Councillor McElwee.

“This year's successful Youth Festival was an excellent event for the Youth Council to be involved in, driven and run for youth by youth,” she added.

Mayor Rick Cooper attended the Youth Council celebration last night and was very positive about getting the Youth involved with Council initiatives. “The Youth are our future and we need to support and encourage them to get involved with the direction of the community,” he said.

Councillors Downard and Chrustowski, Council’s representatives on the 2008 Youth Council, also attended the Youth Council celebration last night and said they were really looking forward to working with incoming Youth Council.

Members of the Youth Council received a certification of appreciation and a letter of recommendation from the Mayor for their efforts and many of them have expressed their interest for being part of the 2008 Youth Council.