Breathe… Celebrating the Youth Smokefree Message

October 16, 2007

Breathe… Celebrating the Youth Smokefree Message

It’s not everyday that High School Students in Taranaki have a gala awards dinner put on just for them, but that’s exactly what’s happening this Thursday night. The dinner provides an opportunity to highlight the achievements of the 15 Smokefree Auahi Kore High School Teams in promoting the Smokefree message to their peers.

This year, 15 Taranaki High School teams have received a grant from the TDHB Health Promotion Smokefree Auahi Kore Unit to promote and advocate the smokefree message to their peers and community. That’s a big achievement – it’s one from every high school in Taranaki, with two additional teams focusing specifically on a kaupapa Maori approach, Auahi Kore. The theme for Thursday night’s dinner is “Breathe…”

The teams that are chosen to be Smokefree/Auahi Kore ambassadors have some strict guidelines to adhere to. The teams come from all over the Taranaki region and range from netball, to hockey, to waka ama. In receiving the grant, they take on the task of being role models, by wearing the Smokefree branding on their uniforms, and continuing to commit to being smokefree/auahi kore.

The night provides an opportunity for the teams to present and share about the activities that they have run during the year to promote the benefits of living a smokefree lifestyle.
Presentations have a high standard to live up to, with teams from previous years’ rapping, dancing, playing music, singing songs and performing waiata to support and explain what they have achieved throughout the year.

TDHB Smokefree Auahi Kore Health Promoter Emma Hope says: “This event is a highlight on our Smokefree calendar, it affirms the positive attitude that Rangatahi have towards being Smokefree, and their enthusiasm and creativity in their presentations is always gratifying.”

This year, the event will include guest speaker Skye Kimura, a passionate Anti-Tobacco Youth Advocate, as well as a performance by local Waitara High School Smokefree Rockquest entrants, Maori Element.

Media is invited to attend at the Plymouth International Hotel, Grand Ballroom on Thursday 18th October, commencing at 6pm. Attached is a copy of the Breathe… programme.

ENDS

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