RECOGNITION for its commitment to support young people has come in the form of an award for the City of Rockingham.
At this year’s Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia, Children’s Environment and Health Local Government Awards 2016, they won the ‘Young People Making a Difference in Communities’ category on December 9.
The award was in recognition of the Let’s Taco ‘bout It event which the City supported the Rockingham Youth Advisory Committee (RYAC) to run in April 2016.
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READ NOWThe project was awarded top marks from the judges as a great example of an event coordinated by young people for young people.
“The City is committed to building the capacity of young people to grow into future leaders and valuable community members, and this event was a great way of achieving this,” Mayor Barry Sammels said.
“Congratulations to everyone who was involved.”
Let’s Taco ‘bout It was a competition designed and led by RYAC that invited local young people to provide and present an idea about how to create a fun space at a youth street festival.
Young members of the community voted on the ideas with the winning young person being provided with $5,000 to implement their idea, with mentoring from RYAC.
The winning project was a Big Ceili (Traditional Irish Folk dancing) Dance Off which will be implemented as part of the free Youth Beach Party 2017- City of Rockingham event for young people to be held from 2pm to 5pm on Tuesday 10 January on the Rockingham Foreshore.
“I encourage everyone aged 12 to 18 to come along to the party and relax during the school holidays,” he said.
“There will be free burgers, slushies, a DJ set as well as the Big Ceili Dance Off.”
PIC: 463644p1: Caption: WALocal Government Association Deputy President Mayor Tracey Roberts (left) andWACommissioner for Children and Young PeopleColin Pettit (right) congratulate the City of Rockingham’s Manager Community Capacity Building Jillian Obiri-Boateng and Community Development Officer (Youth) Ellie Cooksley on receiving the Young People Making a Difference in Communities Award.