Youth grow through community programme

Merania Karauria | Monday, September 6, 2010 14:00

GROWING SKILLS: Jonathan Katene, Te Rangi Peeti Green, Samuel Katene and volunteer youth worker Taara Green plant seeds for germination in the Grow your Own Cookbook programme at the Castlecliff garde

Castlecliff youth are learning how to grow kai in the Grow Your Own Cookbook programme that meets twice a week at the Carsons St garden site.

Youth Services Trust (YST) youth work co-ordinator Stacey Foskett said eight youths had registered for the programme, whcih was designed to bring people aged 12-24 years and their whanau together through a garden that benefits the community.

Traditionally, it was the responsibility of many to raise and support a child into adulthood and the concept of Grow Your Own Cookbook was a way to strengthen whanau and the community.

The gardens work on the traditional model to bring together the community and provide support and knowledge for young people to grow and develop into healthy and positive members of society, and set them up with skills for generations to come.

Grow Your Own Cookbook is a joint-funded venture between the Whanganui District Health Board's HeHa project and the Ministry of Social Development and delivered by the YST.

To sign on to the programme: Youth Services Trust Whanganui,7 Park Place, 348 9935, or turn up at the Carson St garden, Thursdays 3.30pm-7pm and Saturdays 12-4pm