Council youth project wins supreme national award

Rotorua District Council’s (RDC) E Oho youth programme won the Supreme Award at the Youth in Local Government Conference national awards function in Porirua last week.

Six local youth - two from the E Oho youth programme and four Rotorua district youth councillors - attended the three-day conference with RDC youth projects officer Jill Campbell.

E Oho, a partnership project of RDC, Te Waiariki Purea Trust and young people from Fordlands, Koutu and Western Heights communities, also won the awards’ Youth Participation category.

Ms Campbell said it was excellent for the work of Rotorua to be acknowledged on a national level. She said they were “totally psyched” by their win.

“Amiria Whareaorere and Beaudey Campbell did an awesome presentation to a packed room, and were very open and honest about youth issues in their areas. Their presentation also covered activities they were involved in running in their neighbourhoods.

“Youth on our E Oho programme made submissions to last year’s draft Ten Year Plan, which helped secure a total of $600,000 for upgrading and developing youth spaces in parks and reserves in Koutu, Fordlands and Western Heights.

“The project is influenced, planned, and implemented by young people for young people, and this fosters community and youth development.”

Ms Campbell said it was exciting to be able to bring Rotorua youth to a national forum such as the Youth in Local Government Conference.

“They’re meeting people from all over the country and learning about what other youth councils are doing, as well as sharing with others what we’re doing here in Rotorua.

“It’s an opportunity to highlight positive things happening in those communities and to foster young leaders.”