Internal newsletter March 2011
CEO Editorial
Kia ora
Over the last 6 weeks the events in Christchurch, Japan and the Middle East have been horrific. I have found the images staggering and at times surreal and the depth of human tragedy overwhelming.
Youthline Christchurch was just recovering from the September earthquake when they were hit again far more severely this time. Their base is in the red zone and has been condemned. To date no equipment or resources have been able to be recovered. Wonderfully everyone got out ok and all have been accounted for.
Youthline Christchurch manager, Tina Mackie has been utilising our office and we have been providing what support we can. We will need to replace their telecommunication infrastructure and other resources once they have found a new base. We have also been working with a Youthline Christchurch volunteer, Rebecca Jury making sure young people in Christchurch are aware of the youth help service and also developing a written resource that can be distributed to all Christchurch young people.
Youthline Auckland in partnership with Lifeline, Shine and MSD also provide the Right Service Right Time quake response line and they have been extremely busy. Youthline youth help service has also shown an increase in contacts received. See this article for more information:
However over the last 6 weeks another series of images have stood out. That is the images of how young people are at the forefront of making a very real difference in our world.
From the student “army” in Christchurch and the young people rallying to help Japan quake and tsunami survivors, to the nuclear protests in Tokyo and through all the middle east ‘revolutions’ young people are there with and for others.
Within Youthline conversations are happening about how to galvanise our own youth movement, building on from the wonderful work done last year by many hundreds of young people volunteering in Youthline in many diverse ways. From producing the Youthline television commercials through to consulting for our new Manukau center- young people have been making a very real difference as the leaders of today and tomorrow!
Kia kaha,
Stephen Bell
