Song writing is being used by a New Zealand based mentoring group to help Pasifika school students combat bullying.
Students in Auckland take part in the Aha mentoring programme which uses music to combat bullying. Photo: Supplied/ Pasifika Foundation
The Auckland based Aha Music Mentoring programme has 12 schools involved in and is overseen by the newly formed Pasifika Foundation.
Music mentor, TJ Taotua, says the programme aims to build the self-esteem and confidence of vulnerable young people through music and song writing competitions.
"A number of young people who we've seen in the programme who've been quite disengaged, and there might be things happening in the home. Eighty percent of the schools that we do work with, a lot of the students haven't had any musical background as such but by the end of the programme they're right into it."
TJ Taotua says each song writing project has a theme and this year's focus is on anti-bullying messages.
The Foundation launches tomorrow with a showcase performance of songs by the top four schools.
