For the second session of the project, Aimee Evans and Webmaster Jeremy Dennis visited a regular session at Allandale Youth Centre in Carterton to make badges.

We got out all the badge-making equipment and idea sheets right away, but things didn't really get going until after Eastenders had finished!

Making a badge is a fun idea, and most people start out very enthusiastic. But coming up with something you want to write on a badge isn't so easy.

It needs to be a short, simple, original, clear message that you would feel strongly enough to justify if someone challenged you for wearing it. Harder than you might think!

As well as the badge-making equipment, we brought along a camera and a laptop with remote access to the internet, so the young people at the session could be signed up to Spired.com right away.

Once signed up, they can leave messages on the Graffiti Project Wall and in Spired.com's forums.

All sorts of issues came up as the group decided what they were going to celebrate or protest on their badges.

The were slogans about the freedom to do things you enjoy, like blading and bmxing, avoiding bad behaviour like drugs or intolerance, and standing up for things you believe in, like peace and self respect.

Some of the topics people chose for their badges were quite controversial, which lead to discussion about racism, homophobia, sexual identity, and respecting each other's opinions.

What emerged was that it was important that the slogan was something you really believed in, as the badges you make or wear make a statement about you.

At the end of the session, the workers at the Allandale centre picked out their favourite and their creators got chocolate eggs as prizes.

Most people took their badges home, but a few were left to decorate the centre, like this one pinned above the sink.

You can see the badges here: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, as well as T-shirts made in a second session.