Deputy PM Set To Welcome Youth To Capital

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English will welcome veteran mountaineer Graeme Dingle, Foundation for Youth Development Co-founder Jo-anne Wilkinson and a group of students to Wellington on Sunday 31 January, as they finish a 1,500km journey across the South Island.

Mr English will greet the South Island participants of The Big Walk – a journey dedicated to turning around the country’s negative youth statistics – at Chaffers Marina, Oriental Parade after they cross Cook Straight on the iconic Peter Blake yacht, Lion New Zealand. The next day, they and all participants in The Big Walk from across the country, will officially be welcomed by Youth Minister, Paula Bennett at Parliament.

Hon English said he is supportive of Dingle’s latest venture which is aimed at tackling the country’s sobering youth statistics.

“This project is a great initiative aimed at getting communities across the country thinking about how we can better engage with young New Zealanders.

“There is no time like the present for everyone to take action and think about ways of bringing about positive change and enhancing youth development,” English said.

Since November last year, Dingle, who is the co-founder of the Foundation for Youth Development (FYD), has led groups of teenagers that have taken part in FYD programmes, Stars and Project K, across the South Island. At the other end of the country, adventurer Jamie Fitzgerald has led groups from Cape Reinga to Wellington.

Each group of participants completed legs of up to 100kms over four to five days. “During the walk, participants took part in workshops and learning experiences which were aimed at developing their life skills and determining the best ways of engaging youth.”

According to Dingle, the country’s youth statistics are not only a tragedy for the youths and families directly affected, but they also represent a huge cost for New Zealanders.

“Just recently, the OECD released a report showing that more than a quarter of Kiwi teenagers quit school early, placing New Zealand second in the developed world for drop-out rates.1

“Based on conservative estimates, the ‘economic and social cost’ to New Zealand is in the billions of dollars,” he said.

Lion New Zealand and the Lion Maritime Development Trust are proud to be helping FYD with The Big Walk. This collaboration continues the partnership between the two organisations with the aim of providing valuable life skills to young people through leadership training programmes on board the iconic vessel.

To find out more about The Big Walk or to make a donation to FYD, visit www.thebigwalk.org.nz.

ENDS

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