Youth group runs its own fundraiser

Almost 100 Featherston schoolchildren from the three schools in the town enjoy a disco run at Featherston School by members of The Way youth group. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Members of a Featherston youth group are paving their own way to success after running a fundraiser and school disco in the town for almost 100 primary schoolchildren.

The WAY -- Wairarapa Anglican Youth -- was this year established in Featherston and today connects with similar groups running out of churches in Martinborough, Greytown and Masterton, alongside a related group at Rathkeale College, The WAY co-ordinator Alan Maxwell said.

The group, which Mr Maxwell initially founded in Featherston in April, caters to youth aged from 12 to 17 and today has more than 100 members spread throughout Wairarapa, he said.

Members from the Featherston group are planning field trips for which they need funds, Mr Maxwell said, and "after some brainstorming, they came up with the idea of holding a disco for pupils from the three primary schools in the town".

The WAY youths on Friday successfully ran the disco and hangi at Featherston School for almost 100 children from Featherston, South Featherston and St Teresa's schools and also put down a hangi for which tickets were sold, Mr Maxwell said.

"And the whole thing was completely youth driven. From approaching the principals of each school to helping put down the hangi.

"What they achieved was awesome."

Members had completed and enjoyed a range of lessons during the event planning and execution, he said, including team-building, co-ordination, marketing, food preparation, hygiene and the cultural experience the hangi represents.

The youths raised $1300 from the disco, for which there was a gold coin donation for entry, and selling tickets for the hangi and running the school tuck shop selling goodies for the children at the disco, Mr Maxwell said. Hansells in Masterton had also donated drink mixes which were given out at the disco for the thirsty younger dancers. The funds will go towards planned field trips and equipment.