Rotorua youth essay contest focuses on child rights

Rotorua's youth are being encouraged to enter a council-sponsored essay competition on how to protect children in the community.
Writers of the two best essays will have the opportunity to represent Rotorua at the National Youth Forum on Cultural Diversity in Hamilton in August.
Rotorua District Council youth projects officer Jill Campbell said writers must be aged between 16 and 25 with the successful entrants joining about 60 others from around the country to discuss issues of cultural diversity as it relates to them.
Entrants must write a two-page essay on how New Zealand can protect vulnerable children and youth from harm and how to ensure all children and young people equally enjoy the right to education, good health, housing and freedom from poverty.
Mrs Campbell said judges would be looking for insightful and thought-provoking messages.
"The top two entrants will be awarded a fantastic opportunity to network and engage with other community-minded youth from around the country."
She said the youth forum runs alongside the New Zealand Diversity Forum, meaning young people will have the chance to contribute their views to the wider forum.
The National Youth Forum on Cultural Diversity is taking place from August 20-22 and is jointly hosted by the New Zealand National Commission for Unesco and the Human Rights Commission.
Entries must be received by 4.30pm on Thursday, June 27.
The winners will be notified by Thursday, June 30.
For more information contact Jill Campbell on (07) 350-8180 or email jill.campbell@rdc.govt.nz.