29 July 2005

City youth event with the F message

Break-dancing and hip-hop displays and workshops are just three of the free youth events expected to attract hundreds of Waitakere teenagers next month.

'Xpose Youth' is organised by youth for youth with the message of Fun which is alcohol and drug free.

On Sunday 14 August from 10.30 - 3.30pm at the Trusts Stadium, ‘Xpose Youth’ will feature push play activities run by Wai Health, volley ball, basket ball, hip-hop and break-dance displays with workshops afterwards.

Alcohol and drug-free messengers will be on the spot, including FADE, SPARC, CADS, Youthline, NZ Drug Foundation, Wai Health, Young New Zealanders Challenge.

“The Edge” radio station will also be involved on the day and the Mad Butcher has donated 400 sausages for a 'sizzle'.

A Community Action on Youth Alcohol and Drugs steering group is organising the event which will be opened by a kaumatua.

Youth steering group chairperson and Green Bay High School student Laura O’Connell says the new stadium is an ideal place to host this event.

“It’s a really cool design. It has with plenty of room for workshops. Because we are holding the event during the day, that’s a good opportunity for people to meet without the pressure of feeling they’ve got to take drugs and alcohol to have a good time. The message is definitely fun with a capital F,” she says.

Councillor Ewen Gilmour says “having break dancing and hip-hop is a definite plus, as dancing is a whole lot of fun and brings people together. I would like to see parents’ bring their children along, stay and get involved.”

ENDS

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