Youth Voices Action is bringing YouthFest to town this May, and this is everything you need to know.

Youth Fest is an innovative youth festival aimed to showcase the talents of young individuals in the community, which is happening on May 25 during Youth Week at the Historic Village.

Young people are working together to make a difference in a world that significantly excludes them from participating in the decision-making process of initiatives intended for their benefit.

Tauranga Youth Development Team, also known as TYDT has formed a new identity, Youth Voices Action.

YVA focuses on giving young people chances to develop themselves, have a say in things that affect them, and work towards making their communities more representative.

“YVA is a name that better reflects our mission and dedication to empowering young voices across the Bay of Plenty,” says general manager of Youth Voices Action, Erika Harvey.

The organisation has a Youth Advisory Panel that is at the forefront of shaping its initiatives, and a 15-year-old from Otumoetai College named Gabrielle Stimpson as its 2024 Youth Ambassador.

YVA 2024 youth Ambassador Gabrielle Stimpson says the organisation gives young people the chance to get involved and work with different people and make a difference among youth.

“YVA is an organisation that wants to inspire and encourage youth to share their opinions in a healthy environment and allow them to express what they feel in the system that they want to change,” says Gabby.

“We are giving feedback to more people of power and showing them that the system isn’t working, what needs to change and how we can all help together.

“YVA aims to be a place in which youth can feel safe to discuss the issues they [young people] are facing and the solutions they have to fix them.

“We are all working together to solve these issues.”

“A lot of youth are struggling. I wanted to get the point across that the system in place isn’t working,” she says.

“YVA is all about making sure younger people are being heard.”

The decisions made about youth are never made by youth, meaning that the solutions often don’t fit and they feel misunderstood and frustrated.

“YVA gives young people an opportunity to give feedback, take Initiative, and become passionate about different issues they want to see change in.

“It helps to explore diverse perspectives and it’s also an amazing environment to express them and work together.

Gabby says those in YVA can learn to compromise between opinions and come up with great solutions.

“Many believe all young people share the same views or think the same way, but that's not the case,” says Erika.

“Participants in our youth panel are learning to find common ground and collaborate with those they might not typically choose as friends.

“Observing them listen to varied viewpoints and work together on solutions is remarkable.

“This highlights the power of teamwork and diverse thinking, transforming differences into strengths.

“Together, Gabby and the panel have been the driving force behind the conception of fresh ideas including an innovative youth festival aimed to showcase the talents of young individuals in our community.

“Youth Fest is all about bringing that local vibe, with youth bands ready to rock out, young entrepreneurs pumped to showcase their cool products, and much more!

“This isn't just any celebration; it's a chance for rangatahi to dive into what they love, boost their confidence, and open up their world, all while having a blast in a safe and supportive space.

“We are actively seeking sponsorships from local businesses passionate about youth development, to sponsor this exciting event and ensure Youth Fest becomes a memorable and impactful experience.

“As we gear up for what promises to be an unforgettable event we’d love to hear from the community,” says Erika.

“YVA often holds events like 100% Summer, Jammin’ in the Park, and FluroFest which is put on each year during mental health awareness week in partnership with Te Whatu Ora BOP and the Tauranga City Council.

“Youth Voices Action is all about giving youth the power to have a say in things that affect them and come up with ideas to help connect youth with more community initiatives (hence YouthFest),” says Erika.

“However, there are times YVA will tackle political issues – as an example, Ara on our Youth Panel is a 19-year-old who wants to see legislative changes where abuse cases against young people are fast-tracked to having their cases heard within 6 months.

“So, we have set up a meeting with our local MP Sam Uffindell so, watch this space,” says Erika.

“Being a part of YVA means that you get involved in events and other initiatives, get volunteering experience, work with a wide range of organisations and different people, learn how to give formal feedback, work alongside a team and overall, make a difference.

“We are currently trying to find corporate sponsors and funding to bring it to life.

“It’s happening at the Historic Village on the 25th of May during YouthWeek.

“Funding right now is really constrained and we really want to bring this event to life as it has huge benefits for young people and our community and the date is quickly approaching.

“Swing by our Facebook or Instagram page @youthvoicesaction and tag youth bands & young entrepreneurs in the BOP you think we need to know about.

“If you’re a business that's all about supporting the next generation who might be interested in sponsoring this event, drop into our DM’s and let us know!

“Every suggestion, tag, and nomination brings us one step closer to turning Youth Fest into a reality that reflects the vibrant spirit of our community,” says Erika.