Youth from the Kawakawa and Moerewa communities nominated by local schools, iwi and social services are set to get hands on experience working with emergency services.
Fifteen youth from the communities, aged between 15 and 18 will participate in the Youth in Emergency Services (YES) programme.
The Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group says, this national programme is designed to strengthen the connection between young people and their communities
Those participating in the Ministry of Youth Development funded programme will spend five weekends experiencing the work of key emergency services including St John, Red Cross, NZ Fire, Rural Fire, NZ Police and Civil Defence.
According to the press statement, Councillor Paul Dimery, a former police officer and the Northland Regional Council’s representative on the Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, says YES can provide a pathway to further involvement in the emergency services field, either as a volunteer or as part of a paid career.
“It also enables a greater appreciation from the communities themselves about the value and contribution their young people can make,” he says.
Some of the participants in last year’s programme went on to become emergency services volunteers and will return to this year’s programme in the role of ambassadors.
The programme begins on Saturday May the 2nd.