Mangere's youth speak up against negative stereotyping

PRESS RELEASE May 5, 2016

When Paul Lesoa decided to write a message to his favorite community news page, Mangere’s 275 Times, he never thought it’d get to this. The 15-year-old Mangere College student had been hearing a lot of negative stuff in the news about recent events in Mangere related to youth crime but he knew his community was defined by so much more. So he got on his phone penned the message below to the editor of 275 Times. The message was then given a few small edits and published in the local media organisation’s monthly magazine and shared on its Facebook page.

Since going online on Tuesday evening, the post has now been viewed by 50,000 people, received over 1500 likes and shared over 150 times. It might not be a viral hit on the same level as the #therunningmanchallenge challenge, but for a community of roughly 55,000 people it’s incredible how quickly this has spread and how it’s resonated – showing that it clearly strikes a chord with so many.

Here’s the piece below from the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/275times/

THE VOICE OF MANGERE'S FUTURE

My name is Paul Lesoa, aged 15, and a proud student of Māngere College. A lot of outsiders who are not from South Auckland look down on where we come from – Māngere 275.
Māngere is where most of us Islanders live. Māngere is home and I know a lot of people are afraid to tell people that they come from Māngere. Looking from the outside in people label us as the Compton of Auckland. There are people who may call us ‘overstayers’. Well, if I'm that, then I'm going to overstay and change this country for the better. I'm going to change Māngere’s reputation to a good one. I'm going to try my best to inspire other kids my age, younger and older, to dream big.
The schools in Māngere may not have the flashest facilities or have the luxuries that other schools have but we have a bond, we can relate to each other, we all have a common goal and that’s to make our parents proud.
At Māngere College, last year’s NCEA results were the best results our school has ever had. We don't need the nicest resources if we have a big heart and a big dream. Any brown kid can make it big. We can be the next SBW, the next doctor, the next principal or even the next Prime Minister. We just need to believe. We need to realise we are more than just the brown statistic.
Our school has produced school principals, police officers, barristers, nurses, doctors, sporting legends and music stars. They had to work hard to get where they are now so that inspires us to work hard and to believe.
We can be the generation that gives Māngere a good reputation for the rest of Auckland. We can be the generation that breaks the stereotype.

275 Times editor Justin Latif says the response to this proud student’s message shows the potential and promise of Mangere and South Auckland.

“Students like Paul are growing up only hearing the disparaging things said about themselves and their communities,” he says. “But despite the negative stereotypes associated to their community they still show so much pride and resilience to overturn these misconceptions and strive for success despite what negative stereotypes may be perpetrated in the mainstream media.”

“It’s young people like this that we need to cherish and empower. And it’s the very reason 275 Times exists, as a way of giving our creative talented South Auckland youth a platform to show who they really are.”

Here’s just a sample of some of the feedback from readers of Paul’s post on Facebook.

Caroline Uamaki Awesome write up Paul! As an ex MC student I couldn't be more proud of your chosen words in this little article.

Liz Carswell Smits I went to Mangere College in the 70s and grew up in Mangere. Great place to live and many successful inspiring people have grown up in Mangere. Good for you standing up for the great suburb of Mangere.

Paul wrote this message on the 275 Times Facebook page following the overwhelming response to his post.

Paul Lesoa A very humbling experience would like to thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to publish this. Thankful to appear on your page and For Mangere College, the Principal and Miss Campbell for helping me with this article. Couldn't of did it without them. All glory to god

We’re sending you this press release because we feel that students like Paul need to be celebrated and their stories shared. It’s not about us or our involvement – rather we’d like to think sharing Paul with those of you in the mainstream media can help reverse misconceptions that surround this community and also promote an alternative narrative about Mangere and South Auckland that doesn’t often get heard.

WHAT IS 275 TIMES: Mangere’s 275 Times is a social enterprise community media initiative aimed at celebrating all that’s good and great in Mangere and to give a platform for our youth to express themselves. It’s been running since September 2014 and is run and supported by the people of Mangere. Visit our web page for the latest issue: www.275times.com

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