24 May, 2006

Establishment Of Youth Mentoring Trust

The launch of The Youth Mentoring Trust in Manukau City this week marks a new phase in services to support youth.

According to the Chairperson of the trust, Jim Peters, a former secondary principal and youth mentoring expert, youth mentoring in New Zealand is an under-developed mechanism for engaging the community in youth work.

“Youth mentoring offers opportunities for people to make a personal contribution to young people,” says Mr Peters. “But often it’s difficult for people who run programmes to know how to get started, how to keep programmes going, and how to find, train, and support people who have something to offer to a mentoring programme.

“The government’s Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa is an excellent policy framework for working with young people. It will help to grow the community capacity to support young people. Getting involved in youth mentoring is a great way for anyone to make a difference to the life of a young person, and it is a practical reflection of the strategy.”

The trust and its new website will be launched by the Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Minister for Youth Affairs, in Manukau City tomorrow.

The launch is being facilitated by the City of Manukau Education Trust (COMET), which has strongly advocated for the establishment of tailored mentoring programmes to meet the diverse needs of youth – especially Maori and Pacific Island youth – in Manukau City

New website: www.youthmentoring.org.nz
Media invitation to launch: 1pm, Butterfly Creek, Tom Pearce Drive, Manukau City (airport area)

ENDS

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