The This is ME® Secondary Schools programme has continued at Waihi College in 2019. A group of eight leaders have been working alongside This is ME® representatives to provide quality opportunities for their fellow female students.

After hearing from their peers, the leaders worked with the College to enter a team into the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge, with 15 girls partaking in the challenge at Ngaruawahia. The leaders have worked with the PE Department to have a ‘girls only’ School Gym for one lunchtime a week, where a number of activities are played including social/-pop-up Volleyball and Netball.

More recently the leaders have worked alongside some of the junior students to plan and design some have-a-go surfing opportunities at Waihi Beach as well as a girls-only pool party in their school’s swimming pool.
 
The This is ME® Secondary School Programme has also had a steady first three terms at Paeroa College. Working alongside a group of young leaders, This is ME® representatives supported the young women as they worked alongside their peers to hear what opportunities they felt were missing in the school and how they could provide quality opportunities that broke down barriers.

Connecting with a local boxing instructor, the leaders introduced Thump Boxing, which was very well received by a driven and passionate group of year 9 students. More recently there have been some changes in the leadership group as the girls continue to develop and mould This is ME® for Paeroa College.

The leaders finished the year by planning, designing and delivering a Colour Obstacle Festival for all year 7-10 female students. It was a fantastic afternoon with a lot of paint powder, fun challenges, music and laughter with over 50 young women participating.