Teenage Kiwi Adventure to Stop Child Trafficking

An article by Frank    No Comments

Yesterday, Ten teenagers set out from four different locations in the North Island for an outdoor adventure that will not only test their mettle, it promises to literally be a `traffick stopper’.

To celebrate 25 years of providing life-changing experiences for young people, Adventure Specialties Trust has invited 40 teenagers to undertake the Sea2summit Four Corners Journey. At the same time, they are raising funds for New Zealand aid and development agency TEAR Fund, to help stop child trafficking in Nepal.

The 12-day Four Corners Journey is a fun challenge where the 40 teenagers tramp cycle and kayak their way to the central North Island, culminating in a climb to the summit of Mt Ruapehu. The four teams will simultaneously begin the journey from a different location starting in Auckland, Gisborne, Wellington or New Plymouth.

“Each day of the journey has a theme and through discussions, the teams explore the importance of being generous and compassionate and what it takes to create a caring society and to help a needy world,” said trust director Lyndsay Simpkin.

As the teams pass through each town they will stop to promote TEAR Fund’s Lost Children of the Himalayas appeal. This project aims to fight the causes of child trafficking in Nepal.

TEAR Fund executive director Stephen Tollestrup said he was grateful for the support of Adventure Specialties for the Nepal project. By implementing initiatives to reduce poverty and educating parents we will see a reduction in the high numbers of children sold to traffickers in India.

“It is fantastic to see young people who are prepared to take on the challenge and in doing so, make a huge difference in the world.”

Later in the year a team from Adventure Specialties will visit the project in Nepal as part of a planned trip and help out.
To find out more visit www.tearfund.org.nz or www.adventurespecialties.co.nz

The teams started in:

Auckland
Where: Auckland waterfront
Date: January 11
Time: 9am

Wellington
Where: Wellington waterfront
Date: January 11
Time: 9am

New Plymouth
Where: New Plymouth waterfront
Date: January 12
Time: 9am

Gisborne
Where: Gisborne, Corner of Gladstone Road and Peel Street
Date: January 12
Time: 9am

Teams will pass through:

Town: Stratford
Day: 14 January
approx time: 2.30 – 4.30pm
New Plymouth Team

Town: Te Kuiti
Day: 15 January
approx time: 5 – 6pm
Auckland Team

Town: Palmerston North
Day: 16 January
approx time: 9.00am – 11am
Wellington Team

Town: Taupo, Te Heuheu Street
Day: 17 January
approx time: 9.30am – 12pm
Gisborne Team