Learning about Your Ancestors is Easy, Says 14-Year-Old

NGARUAWAHIA, New Zealand — Family history research is not only accessible but enjoyable too, according to fourteen-year-old Tahei Anderson.

Last month Tahei organized a genealogy evening for her fellow youth in the Ngaruawahia Ward (congregation) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ngaruawahia is a town near Hamilton on New Zealand's North Island.

Tahei, who volunteers as a family history consultant in her ward, a position usually held by adults, has become so enthused with genealogy that her excitement is rubbing off on others.

A few weeks ago Tahei organized a youth night in a computer suite at the local high school and invited the 16 and 17-year-olds in her ward to learn about the resources of the Church, including www.familysearch.org , one of the most popular and powerful genealogy resources on the Web.

Sandy MacDonald, head of the computer department at Ngaruawahia High School, made his classroom available for the recent youth Family History workshop.

“The youth got straight into it,” McDonald said. “It was hard to get them to stop when it was time to finish.”

Youth leader Aaron Osman said the evening was a great experience for the young men and women.

Fellow leader Tania Gaastra agrees. “It was wonderful to see how interested they were in their relatives.”

The workshop has had a very positive effect within the Ngaruawahia Ward. When the adults heard about the teenagers' experiences they wanted to know when it would be their turn. Future workshops for the adults are being planned.