“Community, youth and making a difference are key to our entire being,” says Bex Twemlow, Tōku Pakihi/Chief Commander at Firebrand, a Dunedin-based marketing and digital transformation agency.
The Firebrand Team, 2021.
Bex says Firebrand became involved in ŌYV because, “Young people can't be what they don't see. Being a part of the eco-system that supports, nurtures and educates our youth on the possibilities life holds is core to what we do.”
Firebrand projects include bringing the Youth Employment Success (www.youthemployer.nz) campaign to life, developing a digital platform to nurture employers and deliver positive outcomes to youth. The programme has an outreach component and a ‘champion’ in each of communities taking part, such as Gore, Wanganui, Blenheim and Ōtepoti.
Bex says, “The Ōtepoti Youth Vision – initiated by our, now passed, but extraordinary Mayor of the time Dave Cull – provides proof and a platform for a city wanting to make a difference. Why wouldn't you want to be involved...it fills the cup!
“ŌYV is a register of organisations that believe in what it talks about. They are living in the day-to-day and see the gaps in support for the city’s youth.
“I straddle business, commerce, community and the grass roots. I get the conflict; businesses need money to continue. At Firebrand, we need to do branding work to run the business and pay our employees. But as a business, it is also our social responsibility to nurture young people… and do our bit to help build a happy, healthy community. That is why we have three or four interns at a time, and why we pour our energy into programmes that involve and assist young people.”