Song on social justice

ANDY JACKSON

YOUNG JUSTICE: A song about social justice helped New Plymouth girl Kareshma Patrick, 12, pick up a New Plymouth District Council young achiever's award last month

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Perhaps the only thing bigger than Kareshma Patrick's smile is her compassion.

The 12-year-old Sacred Heart student last month won a New Plymouth District Council young achiever's Mayor Choice award for her original song No One.

Despite being just a dozen years old the song was not about boys, clothes or difficult teachers, but about social justice, or lack thereof.

Her maturity is well beyond her years and with that comes her confident but modest reply to questions. Though a successful singer and songwriter from an early age and being the first cousin of one of Malaysia's biggest rappers, Sasi, Kareshma is realistic about just where it can take her. "I am interested in music but I thought of being a lawyer and a part time singer songwriter but I really don't know where life will take me," she says philosophically.

A resident in New Zealand for less than three years she has quickly slotted into life in the provinces even if it is slightly different from her childhood in Malaysia. She credits her school with helping with the transition but in return she has helped some of her fellow students find a voice for their thoughts.

"A lot of the people in my class have started to write songs now. Quite a few have started to shout it out to the world. It's good and in a way I feel quite happy about it. That I have started to make people think about things other than sport and academic study," she says.

Though where she herself gets time to think is hard to say. If she isn't practising her singing, her piano or knee deep in homework, she's reading books.

"We go to the library and she comes back with 10 or 15 books. They are all piled up beside her bed. She would never go to sleep if I tell her to stop turn the light out," says Thana her mum. "She would just read and read and read."

- © Fairfax NZ News