Kawerau Schools Adopt a Nation

Kawerau Schools Adopt a Nation

For immediate release 22 August 2013

Momentum is starting to build in Kawerau as the town counts down to the 2013 World Rafting Champs in November. This week, junior school students got the ball rolling with the ballot of nations for the Adopt a Nation programme.

Adopt a Nation is a 10-week school curriculum designed by the Kawerau Youth Council and funded by the Ministry of Youth Development. The programme aims to involve every junior school student in Kawerau in the build-up to the 2013 World Rafting Champs in November.

Each week, students will follow a different theme with topics based around the nationalities of teams competing in the coming World Champs. At the end of the 10-week curriculum, the work of the students will be showcased in The Global Water House Adopt a Nation dome.

Up to 30 nations are expected to be represented at the World Rafting Champs and on 20 August 2012, a ballot was held to allocate each of the representative nations to a junior-school class from Tarawera High School, South School, Pūtauaki School, and Te Whata Tau o Pūtauaki.

Lucy Potter, Kawerau District Council’s Youth Coordinator, explained the rationale behind Adopt a Nation.

“Adopt a Nation is about leaving a legacy for the next generation of white water competitors right here in Kawerau. Some of the teams are likely to be here for several weeks training before the Champs officially kick off so it is a great opportunity for junior school students to get involved and bring a sense of reality to what they are studying,” Ms Potter said.

In November, schools will display the work of the students in The Global Water House Adopt a Nation dome. This is a large inflatable tent that will form the centre piece of The Global Water House Festival – the events and activities that sit alongside the World Rafting Championships.

“The World Champs are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the community to get involved in a truly global event. It was great to see the students at the ballot genuinely excited about Adopt a Nation and I look forward to keeping up the momentum over the coming weeks as more activities and events come together to build towards a great World Champs event for Kawerau,” Ms Potter said.

Find out more and follow the progress of the students and schools on the Kawerau Adopt a Nation Facebook page. www.facebook.com/adoptanation.

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