Local councillor backs local youth

New Zealand's annual WE-Speak Forum 2010 returns with special guest MC local Christchurch City Councillor, Yani Johanson. He is again hosting New Zealand's annual WE-Speak Forum in the Christchurch Town Hall.

Local Port Hills young people, along with others from around New Zealand, will be given the opportunity to air their views on issues that affect their everyday lives when the fourth WE-Speak Forum returns to the Christchurch Town Hall on Friday 28 May, on the final day of NZ Youth Week.

Youth advocate and city councillor Yani Johanson has kindly agreed to MC the proceedings of the forum and says of the event, "WE-Speak is a fantastic opportunity for young people in Christchurch to come together and share their ideas and feelings on what is good and what can be improved."

"Too often decisions are made which impact on young people's lives without any youth input. As such events such as WE-Speak are vital to ensuring that a voice is given to those who often miss out. I am totally committed to supporting this event in any way I can. It's an honour to be involved."

The forum is the brainchild of The White Elephant Trust, a Christchurch youth charity. WE-Speak was originally set up in response to the Sta Albans Edgeware Road tragedy, which claimed the lives of two of its members. This year, the forum has joined forces with the Otautahi Youth Council.

This year, NZ Youth Week has a strong focus on reducing the harm of alcohol for young people, their families and communities. ALAC Youth Manager Sarah Helm says young people are a positive force for improving the health and wellbeing of their communities: "WE Speak allows young people to discuss the issues that young people see impacting on their community. I hope the forum will allow youth to come up with creative ways to address the negative impacts of alcohol on the lives of them and the people they care about."

[The 4th WE-Speak youth conference returns to Christchurch Town Hall Friday 28th May. Youth aged 15-25 are invited to register for the WE-Speak Youth Conference by visiting www.we.org.nz/we-speak.]