AMP’d recognised at Manurewa Youth Workers’ Awards

13 December 2011

Approximately 250 people attended the 2011 Manurewa Youth Workers’ Awards, which is held every two years at Te Matariki Clendon Community Centre and Library to honour the work of youth workers in the young, vibrant community.

This year AMP’d, a youth programme delivered by Manukau Leisure and made possible by the John Walker “Find Your Field of Dreams” Foundation, Ministry of Social Development and The Southern Trust, took out two of the prestigious awards.

For the second time in a row AMP’d was presented with the award for a youth worker or organisation working in a sporting context. And they also took the “youth transitions” award, which recognises an organisation that has contributed to positive change in the community for young people.

AMP’d was created three years ago in response to SPARC research which shows that about half the youth in New Zealand don’t play any sport, and that of those that do, a third drop out between the ages of 13 and 17 years. AMP’d has three strands: a drop-in after school component where youth take part in free sport and recreation in local parks, a youth team building component dubbed “AMP’d vs Wild”, and a youth leadership programme dubbed “AMP’dified”.

Auckland Council employee, Winnie Hauraki, was another winner on the night, taking the CAYAD Award for an organisation or youth worker who has delivered alcohol and drug education and support to prevent young people from harm. Winnie has been involved with AMP’d, conducting an alcohol consumption study that helped AMP’d youth identify strategies to apply to their own drinking habits and create a safer culture around alcohol.

Teina Rima, AMP'd Team Leader, was a nominee in Human Rights Commission category for someone who has acted as an advocate raising human rights issues for young people in the community.

All awards winners were selected by a judging panel comprising 18 organisations and approximately 32 youth. The awards were hosted by the Manurewa Youth Workers’ Network, an organisation established by the Manurewa local board to give a voice on youth issues, and celebrated a theme of “Celebrating Diversity in Youth Work”.