Bay teens awarded at Government House

Pim Chammoung, 17.

Two Bay of Plenty teens received the Foundation for Youth Development's (FYD) Excellence Awards at Government House in Auckland on Wednesday night.

Project K's Ashley Wilson, 16, and Pim Chammoung, 17, were both awarded for making significant changes to their lives throughout FYD's Project K programme - a programme to build confidence, teach life skills and promote good health for Year 10 students.

Pim Chammoung said Project K helped her reach potential she never thought she had within herself.

"It was a life changing experience, especially when I needed it the most," she said.

The Excellence Awards acknowledge the accomplishments of successful young Kiwis, many of whom have climbed big mountains to overcome challenges and made massive changes to both their outlook and their lives.

Project K's Ashley Wilson, 16.

Ashley and Pim were among twenty-seven other extraordinary young Kiwis who received awards at the ceremony where award winners, mentors, youth leaders and supporters from all over the country gathered.

FYD CEO Marion Short said the Excellence Awards acknowledged the accomplishments of successful young Kiwis, many of whom had climbed big mountains to overcome challenges and made massive changes to both their outlook and their lives.

"We're so proud of all our winners. Their progress and achievements are outstanding and great examples of the difference our programmes can make to the lives of our young people."

Not only did the prestigious event pay tribute to young leaders around the country, the occasion marked twenty years since FYD was founded by mountaineer and adventurer, Graeme Dingle.

Dingle began the FYD journey with co-founder and wife Jo-anne at the top of One Tree Hill in Auckland by rallying together some of the country's most iconic Kiwis including Sir Edmund Hillary, Dame Cath Tizard, Sir Paul Reeves and Murray Deaker where they pledged their intention to establish an organisation.