Eight Manchester school students are flying the flag for the UK at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games in Rarotonga this month. The 14-16 year olds are attending the games as journalists for Supporter To Reporter, the award winning programme that helps young people develop media skills and publish their work. As accredited press the young reporters are working alongside mainstream media to make videos, podcasts and blogs and publishing them on Radiowaves (www.radiowaves.co.uk), the safe social network for schools and young people. Anyone will be able to view the stories, follow their journey and leave their own comments on the Radiowaves website.
Video: Students discover the Cook Islands…
As well as being sports reporters the students will also be cultural ambassadors for the North West and will be helping build links between the two communities in the build up to 2012. The Oceania teams will be making their home in the North West when they train and compete in the Olympics.
Glyn Mcguire from Trafford Children and young people service says of the Pacific Games visit:
“This is an amazing opportunity for talented youngsters to report from a major sporting event as bona fide journalists. It’s also a chance to broaden their horizons and make connections between the Manchester and the Pacific nations- links we hope will grow and flourish for 2012 and beyond”
S2R North West has been awarded the 2012 Inspire Mark for embodying the values of the Olympics
Seb Coe, Chair, London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, says of the S2R programme:
“…I am proud that with the help of Supporter To Reporter we are delivering on our vision to use the power of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to help these budding young journalists gain confidence and experience whilst providing a unique platform for the voice of their generation”
One of the students says of their experience:
“S2R has helped me a lot with my schoolwork and social skills. I think I can do anything now”
By working their way from being a supporter in Manchester to a reporter in the south pacific we think these young stars really can do anything!
To see all the stories and follow all the action at the Mini Pacific Games visit www.radiowaves.co.uk/s2r
The visit to the Cook Islands is being funded by Lancashire Cricket Education Centre
Supporter To Reporter (S2R) is supported by The Football Foundation and Trafford and Northampton’s Children’s & Young People’s Services. It is being delivered through Radiowaves, the BETT Award-winning platform for schools and authorities that provides safe video, blogging, podcasting and networking tools for students.
Radiowaves is the world’s leading social media website in the education sector providing a safe space for 5-19yrs to publish audio and video podcasts and connect together within a national community. Firmly established within the education sector for the past six years, Radiowaves works with teachers and young people on a number of large scale national media projects. www.radiowaves.co.uk
Pacific Mini Games (http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-4592-0-0-0) – 22 countries from the South Pacific will compete in 14 sports. Competing nations include Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. The 2009 games are being held in the Cook Islands 21st September to 2nd October.
