8375 – Do you know what this number represents? It’s the number of our young people, in Christchurch, not in work or training. That’s 1 in 7 of our young people. Don’t they matter?
Just think of all the pupils at Burnside High (2700); Cashmere High (2400) Christchurch Boys High (1400) Christchurch Girls High (1300). Well, there is more than all these together sitting in the homes of our city lying rotting on the couch. With little, if any, state support for them and their parents.
Mayors Taskforce for Jobs.
Many years ago a group of Mayors formed a group which we called Mayors Taskforce for Jobs. It still exists Here’s how their website describes their goal:
Launched in 2000, Mayors Taskforce for Jobs is a network of mayors that brings together councils, businesses, schools, and community organisations to tackle one of New Zealand’s most important challenges—helping young people aged 16-24 to achieve their potential.
Our mission is simple: To use the power of localism to develop pathways that build economic wellbeing for our young people.
Christchurch Council is still a member but is largely inactive. When I sat in the mayor’s seat with the economic development agency in partnership with the public and private institutions, we got the number of under 25’s not in work or training down to 100, and we knew the names of every one of them.
I remember a mate of mine who was also working with unemployment programs. He had an old Chinese friend and was trying to explain unemployment programs. This old chap turned to him and asked “is all the work done?” The answer to this genuine question is definitely not and let us not use our young people be victims of neo-liberal insanity.
It gave me a sense of hope when Labour policy on employment was announced at their conference yesterday. It’s a good start .
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