Celebrating our young people: Maningrida's first Youth Week
Youth Week in Maningrida
The first ever Youth Week festival was a week-long celebration of young people in Maningrida.
Held from 12 to 16 May, the week was an opportunity for everyone to come together to celebrate what it meant to be young in Maningrida today.
Each day featured activities and workshops supported by local and NT-based organisations all focused on youth engagement and expression.
At the Youth Centre and Maningrida College, Matteo Mastratisi from Break’N Barrierz ran daily dance workshops. Working closely with the community, he produced 'Maningrida, Stand Proud', a music video featuring a new song with lyrics in Burarra, which captured the week.
Watch now:
Young aspiring models also had their moment on the runway. Tiesha Munnich-Hewitt from BamalangMOB led a modelling session on posing and presentation. TEABBA Radio took photos of the emerging models, while Babbarra Women’s Centre provided outfits designed by local Maningrida women.
BoxFit NT ran daily boxing sessions from the basketball courts and the school, and West Arnhem Regional Council hosted round robin basketball competitions.
Free haircuts were also on offer throughout the week. The Deadly Hair Dude and Lee Babbs from Industrie Hair travelled from Darwin to give fresh cuts to Maningrida College students and the broader community.
At Maningrida College, a range of workshops helped students build confidence, learn new skills, and explore healthy choices. The Tackling Indigenous Smoking team worked with older students to encourage quitting smoking. iRespect and NO MORE ran workshops at the school and Murnun Men’s Shed, encouraging reflection on respectful relationships and social norms.
The school’s Lúrra Language and Culture Centre ran several cultural activities. Older boys attended spear-making sessions at the Men’s Shed, while the younger children made delicious damper outside of Nja-marleya. The Wellness team led pamper sessions for young women.
Mala’la, together with Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, offered mobile and fixed screenings across the community. Each of our teams included local health workers, nurses and a doctor giving young people better access to culturally safe care in places they felt more comfortable.
On Friday night, hundreds gathered at the basketball courts for a community showcase. The evening opened with a breakdancing performance by the Maningrida Dance Crew, students from Maningrida College, and Break’N Barrierz.
Next was the runway show, featuring young models as young as five wearing traditional designs by Bábbarra Women’s Centre artists.
The night continued with a preview of the Maningrida Stand Proud music video and wrapped up with a community disco.
Thank you for your support
Youth Week wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our partners, volunteers and the community.
We would like to thank:
- Nja-marleya
- Maningrida College
- Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation
- Maningrida Progress Association
- West Arnhem Regional Council
- Bábbarra Women's Centre
- Women’s Cultural Support Hub
- NO MORE NT
- CatholicCare
- BamalangMOB
- Darwin Youth Services
- Northern Territory Government
- AMSANT
- Menzies
- Lurra
- Tackling Indigenous Smoking
- Deadly Hair Dude
- Industrie Hair
- TEABBA Radio
- National Indigenous Times
- Murnun Men’s Shed
Mala’la is proud to support young people in Maningrida and the surrounding homelands to live strong, healthy lives.
