This year marked the first year Aotearoa, New Zealand celebrating Matariki as a nation. It was an opportunity for whānau and communities to come together to reflect on the past year and prepare for the year ahead. Kahu Youth Trust have for many years held an annual Matariki community event bringing the community of Upper Clutha togeather. This year this event once again attracted hundreds of people to the Wānaka lakefront.

The annual Matariki celebrations hosted by Kahu Youth Trust is one of the youth trusts fundraising events which has quickly become an annual highlight for Wānaka. The event was once again well attended with approximately 2000 people from the community on the lakefront enjoying and participating in the celebration. 

What makes this event each year special is that the majority of the volunteers and performers that bring this event to life, are local Upper Clutha youth.

Deva Jacobsen from Kahu Youth Trust highlights that the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. 

"Matariki was so, so good this year! Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and it felt so wonderful to come together as a community."

Kahu Youth began in July 2003, after the community recognised a need for a youth voice, along with youth based activities and events' within the Upper Clutha community. 

Kahu Youth Trust is the only youth service in the Upper Clutha area.

Otago Community Trust is one of the many funders that assists Kahu Youth with the cost of running programmes, activities and events in the Upper Clutha region for young people aged 11 to 24. The annual Matariki Community event being the main one. 

Kahu Youth also provide one on one support and advocacy to young people and their families in conjunction with other agencies to ensure wrap around support is provided for young people in a community where services are few.

To learn more about all the support Kahu Youth, click across to their website: https://kahuyouth.org/about/

In addition to annual funding of $40,000 for youth focused programmes, activities and events in December 2021 Otago Community Trust was pleased to also approve a $17,000 grant to help with the purchase of a 12 seat van. 

Positive youth development work has so many excellent outcomes and with a second van the Trust can now reach many more young people.