Boot camp takes students to new heights

Dejuan Hotere-Feagaiga performs a mock rescue mission at Manukau Tech yesterday. Photo / Natalie Slade

Standing at the top of a power pole wearing heavy overalls and work boots, Dejuan Hotere-Feagaiga looks a little nervous as she fumbles with the rope in her hand.

Below someone calls out: "Watch your helmet." Another says: "Good job, D.J!"

The 18-year-old is one of a group of students taking part in a boot camp under a bigger programme set up to encourage Pacific youth to further their education to tertiary level.

The camp was put together by the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation and Northpower - in association with the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs - to introduce students to the electricity supply industry and what it takes to be a line mechanic.

At the Manukau Institute of Technology in Otara yesterday, a crowd gathered to watch as each student carried out a mock rescue mission of a colleague who had been electrocuted.

Miss Hotere-Feagaiga, who went to Waitakere College then Kelston Girls, said she had never dreamed of being involved in the electricity industry. However, the boot camp had helped her see it in a whole different light.

"I never would've thought I'd be up a power pole working to rescue somebody. But it's an important [industry] and it doesn't limit you - you can travel anywhere in the world and do this work," she said.

"I think people can look at a job and judge it as this or that - like it's just a man's job.

"You don't see girls doing this ... but I'm a girl and I'm doing it."

Northpower spokeswoman Barbara Harrison said it was a good opportunity to draw in youth - particularly Pasifika youth - and praised them for taking a chance.

She told them: "We encourage you to not stop now. Don't give up until you get to the top. It's a fantastic industry."

The camp is one of many educational initiatives that come under the Pacific Employment Support Services project.

The $2.3 million Government-funded project involves a number of agencies working to help Pacific youth gain training and educational opportunities in various fields, with the aim of scoring a job.

In 2010 it was expected that up to 700 people aged 16 to 25 would benefit from the scheme in two years.