Global Education Project

A multi-cultural Project running out of the refurbished New Hub, has been recognised with a Human Rights Commission Award this week. Joris De Brey, the National Race Relations Commissioner met with the group in April this year and was impressed with their unity and enthusiasm for seeing racism decrease in the Nelson area.

The project, funded through The Global Education Fund and supported by the Global Education Centre, promotes cultural diversity, bringing together different cultures, backgrounds and nationalities to break down barriers and stereotypes.

The young people in the group have heritages as diverse as the Philippines, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Russia, Germany, Poland, NZ Pakeha, Maori, New Caledonian, Canada, Taiwan, Thailand, Japanese, Tuvalu and Peru.

The group of 15 teenagers has been active in the community promoting the positive sides of a diverse Nelson community. They have been youth ambassadors at Race unity Day, produced and exhibited a Photo Exhibition on the "Changing Face of Nelson", been welcomed onto the marae with other new settlers to the area and met with Joris De Brey, the National Race Relations Conciliator.

The have also been interviewed on Assignment programme about racism in the area, have entered the Nelson Hiphop Champs and are performing hiphop, Krumping and Salsa at the launch of Youth Week and local High Schools.

Project Coordinator, Chrissi Tamihana, says about the project that ≥the young people believe that role-modeling getting on together will break down barriers and will hopefully decrease racist attitudes amongst their peers. It brings encouragement and hope to all who see them working and getting on together.≈