Spotlight on Youth

The spotlight is on youth this month with a range of activities and events planned for, and by, rangatahi.

Pink Shirt Day on Friday 17 May encourages New Zealanders to help eliminate bullying by celebrating diversity and promoting kindness and inclusion. There are many ways to support this day, from having a ‘wear something pink’ day, promoting the day on social media, or giving a donation. Head to www.pinkshirtday.org.nz for more ideas and information.

Youth Week, 20-26 May, is all about amplifying the contributions of young people to their communities. At Sport Whanganui we aim do this by supporting and encouraging rangatahi to enjoy being active in their own way.

Midnight Basketball is a great example of this kaupapa, and we are proud to once again be supporting Whanganui Basketball alongside Ngā Tai o Te Awa to run this popular event. The “midnight” basketball session at Springvale Stadium starts at 8.30pm on Friday 24 May and is open to youth aged 12+. This is a safe space for all to enjoy and will include basketball games for all skill levels, music, entertainment, pizza and spot prizes.  

Members of Y.E.S.S (Youth Empowering Sports Squad) will be helping out at the basketball and will also be running a BBQ at the Whanganui Secondary School Cross Country championships at Dudding Lake on Tuesday 21 May. Formerly known as the Whanganui Secondary Schools Sports Council, Y.E.S.S is a council of students with the purpose of creating a link between the student body and sport in Whanganui. Students meet regularly and influence decision making related to secondary school sport and recreation. We hugely appreciate and value contributions from this talented group of rangatahi.

The next event in our Women Who Lead series, also set for Tuesday 21 May, will have a youth focus and we look forward to hearing from some of our local youth voices on a range of interesting topics.

May also signals the start of winter sport competition and with the season now underway, many codes are using social media to encourage positive sideline behaviour. A timely reminder that our kids’ sport is about them, not us. Enjoy watching them play, let them have fun with their friends and applaud effort over outcome. And remember to be a good sport towards referees and umpires – they are often learning too.