MEDIA RELEASE
27 May 2005

CAYAD Gets Youth Involved - Positively

The Clendon CAYAD Project (Community Action Youth And Drugs) believes getting youth involved in positive creative projects is the way for them to make a constructive use of their recreational time.

The CAYAD Art/slogan competition launched at Finlayson Park during National Youth Week earlier this month was one such project. (Other activities on National Youth Week included Clendon Community Centre and Library ceremony to mark the sod turning for the new library; Body Odyssey Youth Week activities; and a ‘ban the bash’ touch tournament.)

All participants that entered a poster for the Art/slogan competition were invited to the launch morning tea at Finlayson Park and received participation awards and movie vouchers for their efforts. Each participating group also received resource packs for their classrooms, which included books and CD Roms donated by Manukau City Council staff Raewyn Cook and Katherine Marsh.

All posters entered were displayed at the Clendon Community Centre where local youth were able to vote for their winning poster. Three posters were selected and the overall winners are from Finlayson Park School. They are: Crystal Wiperi from Te Huringa Rumaki Reo; Melitta Augustine from Te Roopu Reo Rua; and Amber Sampson fromTe Roopu Reo Rua.

CAYAD coordinator Winnie Hauraki is now looking to distribute these posters around the Clendon community. If you would like to exhibit one of these delightful posters phone her on -266 0861

The Clendon CAYAD Project aims to reduce harm from illicit drugs among youth in the Clendon community by developing local capacity, establishing reference groups and developing and implementing action plans. CAYAD works at grass roots with local schools identifying suitable leadership programmes.

They have an ongoing free community Law Centre and Youth Law workshops; free drug and alcohol Facts and Effects workshops; bi-monthly reference group meetings, a forum for discussion and debate; a youth committee, centred on creating employment opportunities; and drug and alcohol counselling and programmes.

For more information on The Clendon CAYAD Project phone 266 0861

ENDS