A Central Otago anti-cyberbullying group has added further national recognition to its awards.
Sticks'n Stones last week received a youth champion award as part of the Youth Week Awards, and two of its members were individually recognised for their work with the group.
Ashleigh Smith (18), of Ranfurly, won a change maker community safety award. She is one of the leaders of the group and has helped spread its programme to various schools.
Keryn Tubbs (17), of Alexandra, won a leadership award for her work as a senior member of the group and as Waitaki's Youth MP. The award recognised her leadership and mentoring.
The group was created in 2013 by 25 high school pupils, through the Central Otago Rural Education Activities Programme. Its aim was to take positive action to reduce cyberbullying.
It now has 120 members and has spread outside the district to Dunedin's Columba College.
In March the group won a cyber smart award from the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association and it has advised Facebook and Google on cyberbullying policy.
Ashleigh, Keryn and the group's facilitator, Karla Sanders, could not be reached yesterday because they were in Ireland for the Bullies, Bullied and Bystanders conference.
The awards, run by the Ministry of Youth Development, recognised 36 individuals and nine groups that had made a positive contribution in New Zealand.
Stephen Jones (17), of Invercargill, won a leadership award for his work as chairman of the Invercargill City Youth Council and member of the New Zealand Flag Consideration Panel, and involvement in the UN Aotearoa Youth Declaration.
Hayden Scott-Chambers (18), also of Invercargill, won a youth with disability award for his involvement with the Invercargill Youth Council.
Ben Wigley (24), of Twizel, won a giving back award for creating online financial education software Banqer.
