Kia Ora, I’m Gen (she/her), the journalist for Younite 2022, and I’m excited to be able to share our stories on this community-based platform. Younite has the youth at its core and we hope to create an open dialogue for our youth to lead and represent themselves through the opportunities we present.
Last month was June, a month of pride celebration. We want to not only embrace our LGBTQIA+ youths but also highlight the importance of their presence in cultivating a brighter, more inclusive space. They have been, and continue to be, proactive in our much-needed social matters such as the climate change strike. In fact, Lea (they/she), our awesome LGBTQIA+ representative of Younite, was one of the leaders of the school strike for climate in 2021!
Māori engagement is one of Younite’s focuses this year and we want to strengthen our roots with Aotearoa’s cultural narrative, which is why Younite was thrilled to be able to celebrate Matariki with our local community by hosting a family-friendly Matariki festival on June 23rd. Through the cultural experiences of flax weaving, Māori folktale story-telling and many more activities, we shared the beauty and significance of Matariki with those who attended.
We recognise the lack of opportunity for those who engage in artistic spheres within our community. Thus Younite is excited to not only bring to you ‘Markete Madness’, a Rangatahi creatives event in collaboration with the Upper Harbour youth council, but also grants for three creative-skills projects.
Markete Madness is set to be held on July 9th in our local Hurstmere Green park. There will be countless youth-led stalls showcasing their incredible talents and skills, with all profits funded towards CureKids. We envision this day to be one of celebration, unity and inspiration to elevate the youth talent of our Devonport-Takapuna community.
Our grants are targeted at supporting the projects of Devonport-Takapuna Rangatahi aged 14-24 to stimulate the development of their creative skills. There will be two individual grants worth $700 each and one group grant worth $1400.
If you ever have any queries or would like to contact us, please email younitechair@gmail.com.
