Dame Susan Devoy - Time to step out for sake of our children

Throughout the years, men and women have walked for causes. Perhaps for many New Zealanders, the most inspiring image was the seemingly frail but passionately articulate 80-year-old Dame Whina Cooper who led the famous 1975 hikoi from Te Hapua to Parliament in Wellington.
About 5000 people arrived at Parliament to present the then Prime Minister Bill Rowling with a signed petition opposing the further loss of their land. It marked a new era of protest and reform.
The latest hikoi against the government's foreshore and seabed solution was a fraction of the size but nonetheless the 300 or so were as passionate as their predecessors. Sadly Hone doesn't have the same mana as Dame Whina.
And so over the years walks have become a symbol of solidarity not just as a means of protest but more so of a way of coming together to highlight a need or cause and to even raise money.
Local legend Iris Thomas has quickly made the annual Breast Cancer walk into something of an iconic event and even the spontaneous turnout of 4000 people recently to raise money for the Christchurch earthquake relief fund indicates a willingness for people to band together to demonstrate support.
On April 3, at our magnificent Mount Maunganui beach the local branch of the Foundation for Youth Development (FYD) is hosting the Big Walk. All over New Zealand, regions will be hosting events to highlight the need to keep our kids on track but we are hoping that our walk will be the biggest, brightest and best.
The FYD was founded by Sir Edmund Hillary's friend and climbing companion Graeme Dingle.
New Zealand has some of the most serious youth statistics in the developed world and FYD was formed to address these issues.
FYD works towards turning these around by running several programmes that lift the skills, self-confidence and achievements of those aged 5-18 years.
Here in the Western Bay of Plenty, the Kiwi Can and Project K programmes are run in schools in Tauranga and Te Puke ably led by another local gem, Dan Allen Gordon, and his team of leaders.
Yes, if we lived in an ideal world these programmes wouldn't be necessary. But the reality is that the incidences of youth crime and serious offending are a major social issue.
We can put our head in the sand and say it's not my child so I am not affected but the future of our children and grandchildren is at risk if initiatives aren't put in place to stop the rot.
Families play an enormous role in the shaping of a child's risk for future offending. Positive family environments can provide a strong base for the development of resilience in adolescent development. Conversely, negative environments can be a significant factor for anti-social behaviour and offending.
These programmes give kids a sense of hope and belonging. The Kiwi Can programme teaches young children the very basic values.
Simple but important things such as manners, so often forgotten these days. Respect for yourself and others, self-worth and the belief you are a special individual with a special place in the world.
Project K reaches teenagers with untapped potential, providing direction and opportunity and leading them down a path that shows a promising future.
I am hoping that on Sunday, April 3, at Mt Maunganui opposite Commons Ave we will show our support to helping "keep our kids on track" by walking the talk.
I can't recall, in the time that I have lived here, an organised walk on the main beach so this is a great opportunity to support the young people in our community. Come out with your family and enjoy the last of the summer sun along the most beautiful walk in the country.
Check out www.fyd.org for full info on this event.