Sandwiched between these two weeks – April 4 to 13 – was Youth Week 2014, an annual NSW government initiative that took roots in 1989 and has flourished into a week of celebration and festivities for the Australian youth and their achievements.
This year’s compelling theme “Our Voice. Our Impact” led the youth to identity with and embrace the essence of the theme and showcase their talents by taking part in various events across Australia that helped them project their voice and have an overall impact on the socio-cultural well-being of youth in Australian society.
Senator the Hon. Scott Ryan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, launched the National Youth Week this year. Expressing his support and enthusiasm, Senator Ryan said in the media release that “this year’s theme and the many activities around the country involve young people expressing their views and ideas in a variety of ways”.
The myriad events and activities included expos, exhibitions, competitions, parties, award functions and sporting events like the Youth Week in the City Sports Day that took place on April 12 at King George V Recreation Centre, at The Rocks in Sydney.
The Youth Week in the City Sports Day provided the younger generation, aged 12 to 24, with sporting activities like soccer and basketball competitions interspersed with relationship-developing and friendship-fostering opportunities like free lunch and DJ workshops.
Youth Week 2014 was sponsored by the Mental Health Commission of NSW, the NSW Youth Week Young People’s Advisory Committee (YPAC), NSW Department of Education and Communities, and NSW Health’s Play Safe.
As stated on its official website, Youth Week 2014 truly fulfilled its promise of being “an annual celebration of young people, organised by young people for young people, in local communities across Australia”.
Here’s asking the youth to let their voice be heard and make a difference, by working hard, playing harder, enjoying life and keeping safe, until next year’s Youth Week, which is set to bring back the festivities from Friday April 10 to Sunday April 19, 2015.
