Rotary Karori places a high priority on working with young people in our community. We recognise the challenges faced by many young people and look for ways to provide mentoring and positive and supportive advice. One of those is the Karori Youth Centre operating out of the Karori Community Centre.
 
 At our meeting on 14 February, we heard from Christoph Zintl, Youth Development Adviser at the Centre. Christoph was accompanied by Heather Baldwin, chair of the Community Centre (l to r: Christoph Zintl; John Barton, Club President; and Heather).
 
 Christoph has been working with young people for many years, initially in Christchurch and later in Karori. During this time, he has noted that the age range of young people at the Centre has expanded over time, and now is from 11-25 years. He observed that "young people need encouragement to do better." Through helping young people, "you get involved - what you get behind the scenes is very different to what you see." 
 
 
 
 
The youth advisers are careful to avoid being judgmental. Instead, they focus on helping young people to make good choices and to develop motivation and confidence to carry through on those choices. 
 
Christoph thanked Rotary Karori for its continued support of the Centre, which he noted is fully aligned with our goal of helping others in both international and local communities.
 
Rotary Karori is proud to have sponsored the annual Karori Youth Awards for the past 19 years. The Awards have a special place in the work of the Centre, as they recognise the positive achievements of young people in our community. In addition to the value of this positive recognition, the Awards present a different story to what are often negative stereotypes.