Mentors give kids a positive break

Whanganui firefighter Shane Dudley takes part in activities at last week's Red Cross Rise Up camp.

Nine Whanganui youths have returned from a week-long camp that organisers hope will be transformative in their lives.

And for 10-year-old Bronwyn Peacock of Whanganui the camp has had immediate results. "I made new friends and I feel a lot more confident about myself," she said.

Bronwyn was one 28 youths from throughout the Manawatu-Whanganui region to take part in the annual Red Cross Rise Up camp at the Highland Home Christain Camp outside of Ashurst last week.

It is the fifth camp that has been held. Children are nominated for the camp, which targets those who live in low socio-economic environments, who lack positive role models, or who are otherwise struggling in one way or another.

Whanganui firefighter Shane Dudley was among the eight adults from various agencies to attend. It was his fourth camp and despite the small personal sacrifice of taking time away from home and work, he said it was well worth it.

"These are kids who need a break from home life and something positive in their lives. Quite often they come from homes where things are not so positive," Mr Dudley said.

It was an action-packed week filled with activities and confidence-building adventures such as caving, bushcraft, sports and team building.

Mr Dudley said it was quite something to watch the kids transform from being shy and withdrawn to becoming outgoing and full of confidence in such a short time. A follow-up day is planned for April.

"They also get a personal thumb drive with 1000s of photos from the camp to remind them of their positive experience," Rhonda Morris from the NZ Army, and who also attended the camp, said.

Ms Morris said the camp helped give the youths back their self respect. "Many are told they are nothing, and won't achieve. We open their eyes to the possibilities, give them a sense of their potential."

Eureka moments were especially rewarding for the mentors. "Suddenly the kids start working together, thinking as a group and working as a team."

Feedback from schools suggests many of the children who take part in the camps become more involved in class discussions and their social skills improve. One mother told a mentor she had not seen her daughter smile in three months but returned from camp brimming.

As for Bronwyn, she came away from camp crowned "courage queen" for going the extra mile and giving everything a go.

She hopes to attend another camp in a few years but this time as one of the youth leaders who help the mentors.

"You can't ask for a better outcome than that," Mr Dudley says.

Other mentors to attend the camp included Whanganui firefighter Lindsay Taylor, Stacey Foskett from Red Cross and Waverley farmer Dean Sorenson.