News

December 2021

What a small group of māmā achieved – with the support of Literacy Aotearoa

Wed, 2021-12-01 13:24

In 2020 a small group of māmā (and a nannie) associated with the Mongrel Mob in Tūrangi contacted Literacy Aotearoa and asked for help. They had heard about work that Literacy Aotearoa was doing with Tūwharetoa and they hoped that the literacy organisation could reconnect their rangatahi with education and stem the terrifying tide of youth suicide.

Natasha Nicholson, who is the Literacy Aotearoa Cluster Manager, based in Taupō and covering literacy education from Tūrangi to Rotorua and Kawarau, says that the māmā were passionate about the need for change:

EIT’s Tu Rangatahi Workshops for NEETs – breaking down the barriers

Wed, 2021-12-08 13:37

Two years ago, when MSD in Gisborne told the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) that there were around 300 rangatahi Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET), Jan Mogford, the EIT Tairawhiti Campus Director, decided that she had to do something about it. “Give them a taste of tertiary,” she thought. “It’s really difficult to pick a career path when you know nothing about it.”

Rotorua Pacific Islands Development Charitable Trust – responding to the needs of their community

Wed, 2021-12-15 11:18

During the lockdowns the Rotorua Pacific Islands Development Trust provided support packages, not only for their local community, but for Pasifika people in Taupo, Matamata and Kawerau. When their people reach out, they respond even if it has to be through phone assessments and arrangements with supermarkets in other towns.

In normal times, their scheduled programme, delivered by a staff of 12, responds to the needs of Pasifika people in Rotorua.

Connecting at West REAP’s Koru Club

Wed, 2021-12-22 12:13

In August 2020 West REAP was approached by a family whose son Tom has nonverbal autism. He was about to turn 20 and was leaving school in 2021. His parents were concerned because Idea Services had closed their workshop in Hokitika, leaving people with a disability without any support.

Julia Lavers, the Education Manager at West REAP, responded immediately: