Photo credit: www.stuff.co.nz / Jason Oxenham
A bunch of community minded teenagers has proved once again that they're not afraid of hard work.
Members of Raise Up braved the sun and rain last week to paint a mural along two walls of the Ellerslie YMCA, which funds their youth leadership programme.
Most of the teenagers had never picked up a can of spray paint before but after some help from artist Jonny 4higher and four days of hard work, they've created a vibrant piece of public art.
"It was difficult at the beginning," Raise Up member Andrew Summers, 13, says.
"It was quite a challenge learning about the different paints. It's turned out really well.
"You get better.
"The mural is the story of Raise Up from the beginning to the past year where we finally had our first successful event and nearly got closed down."
The group lost its council funding after the formation of the supercity but organisers fought to keep it alive.
Isaac Panapasa, 16, says the mural is a great reminder of what the group has achieved so far.
"It's just to commemorate the successful year we've had."
Raise Up is run from six YMCA locations around Auckland and aims to develop leadership skills in young people and get them involved in the community. The programme includes fitness classes, body image workshops and social events.
Co-ordinators encourage the members of the group to find an area of need and do something about it.
The Ellerslie group is focused on creating safe, drug and alcohol-free places for teens to have fun, Andrew says.
"We've found out that schools are doing a lot less school-based socials."
He says last year's biggest success was an under-18 dance party that attracted 350 teenagers.
Isaac and other students of the Raise Up DJ school provided the music for the event.
It was also up to members of the Ellerslie group to deal with any drunk people who arrived at the party and arrange a safe ride home for them.
"We have the power to influence people's decisions," Isaac says.
Ellerslie co-ordinator Kat Thomas says last year was a tough but successful one.
Losing council funding did not deter her from running the programme.
The YMCA has increased its funding and the group has managed to cut back on expenses.
"When you look at the events and the participation and the self-esteem that it gives the kids we just said, `Nah, it's worth it'," she says.
Ellerslie resident Abbey McGuffog, 14, says the programme has made a huge difference to her confidence.
"I used to be really scared and now I'm stepping out of my comfort zone," she says.
Last year was the group's most successful despite the lack of funding.
Close to 5000 teenagers took part in events organised by Raise Up.
Source: www.stuff.co.nz