Community work hailed

Cleaning up rubbish, looking after the elderly and helping neighbours in need have earned eight Palmerston North students a day of fun.

Yesterday the group of year four to year eight students from four Palmerston North schools – Tiritea, Roslyn, West End and Riverdale – were treated to a Harley motorbike ride, a helicopter flight, a game of 10-pin bowling, morning tea with Mayor Jono Naylor and an afternoon in the pool.

The eight children, part of the Junior Neighbourhood Support programme, were chosen – out of 400 students from the four schools – as a reward for their work in the community in the past year.

Roslyn School student Tyra Barker, 13, volunteered at the Salvation Army, picked up rubbish in her street, and helped neighbours who had been burgled or were new to the area.

"You have to pitch in and help everyone you can," she said.

"You also get to know everyone [in your neighbourhood].

"I also helped out our backdoor neighbours when they were burgled. I went to the Salvation Army and got them some clothes to wear and helped them feel safe in their home again."

Palmerston North Youth Aid Constable Grant Watts said the programme was designed to get students thinking beyond themselves.

"It's to get them out into the community and doing things for others," he said.

"This [fun day] is for those students who have done a lot for their community, and it rewards them for their efforts."

The Junior Neighbourhood Support programme is run in four different schools in the city each year.

- © Fairfax NZ News