Services & funding > Youth Development Partnership Fund > Round three projects > Young minds think outside the square at Youth Summit

Young minds think outside the square at Youth Summit

A recent Youth Summit in Wellington brought together 75 local young people from various learning environments to take part in workshops on a range of issues to shape plans for the Wellington Youth Project Event Participatory Action Research Crew project.

This project involves the Wellington City Council partnering with the Wellington Boys’ and Girls’ Institute Inc (BGI) and offers young people opportunities in the research and organisation of a series of projects and events based around promoting creativity as a positive outlet for views and emotions, run by and for youth.

The workshops were part of the research phase of the project and involved young people identifying youth needs in the city. The young people actively took part in workshops on a range of issues which will shape plans for the ‘events crew’ that are at the core of the project.

One of the questions the young people at the workshops were asked was what they wanted for the future of Wellington. A broad range of ideas and thoughts were given on this issue and included; safer streets, more events and venues, and more recreation for young people. One young person said they wanted a future Wellington that hasn’t been devastated by a huge earthquake.

Rod Baxter from the Wellington Boys’ and Girls’ Institute says the workshop was a real eye opener, “It was amazing to see the young people tackling important issues with such energy, enthusiasm and honesty.”

“The highlight for me was witnessing the young people talk about their lives in Wellington in a really broad sense. In addition to tangible things they would like to see improved in the City, they also opened up on important cultural issues such as stereotyping and racism, issues that not only affect young people, but society as a whole,” says Rod.

Wellington City Council Youth Services will use the findings of the project to better understand the needs of both young people and youth workers in the city to support their development in appropriate ways.

BGI’s Training and Development Unit will use the findings to assess if their work (and the work of other agencies) has made an impact since the last research and also to tailor future training programmes to build the capacity of youth workers in the city.

A key objective of the Youth Development Partnership Fund is to increase achievement of positive social, economic and wellbeing outcomes for young people by providing opportunities to develop valuable work, life and learning skills.

The Youth Summit is part of the of the Wellington Youth Project Event Participatory Action Research Crew project, submitted by Wellington City Council in round three of the Ministry’s Youth Development Partnership Fund.

Top of page