Rainbow Youth is looking forward to sinking its teeth into a project looking at how it can engage with queer youth about alcohol, thanks to the fundraising effort FebFast. The Auckland-based queer youth support organisation is one of the four benefactors of the initiative, where participants take a break from alcohol and raise money doing so. It has raised more than $100,000 and fundraising will keep going through March. “We hope with this project we can delve into some key intersectional issues such as bullying, isolation, loneliness and relationship violence,” says Rainbow Youth Executive Director Thomas Hamilton. “Ultimately we hope to discover what some of the key pressures in our day to day life are and how that affects the way we engage with alcohol.” Hamilton says he is amazed and inspired by the Rainbow Youth FebFast team members, who did everything from making videos to blogging about the experience. “It was so great to see so many of our friends and members join in this project. I think it is impossible to describe how effective collective energy like this is and we are as always grateful for the support and involvement of volunteers and those who donate. The Rainbow Youth team raised just over $2,000. People can still donate via the FebFast website at www.febfast.org.nz or by texting FebFast to 5338 to make an instant $3 donation.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 6th March 2012 - 3:26pm