Wānanga Youth Services programme empowering rangatahi in the Waikato
Youth Services, what’s that?
It’s a question that Youth Coach, Amber Thwaites hears all the time.
Amber has been a youth coach for the Youth Services programme at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa for just over a year now.
“I think when people hear the words ‘Youth Services’ a lot of them are deterred, it sounds quite formal,” Amber says.
But the programme has a very simple purpose and it’s not formal at all.
It’s a voluntary programme offered by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in parts of the Waikato region to tautoko (support) eligible rangatahi (youth) that are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) or are eligible for the Youth Payment or Young Parent Payment.
“A youth coach supports youth, whatever that looks like. When we go through our initial meet and greets with the whānau and rangatahi we go through what the rangatahi want to achieve and go from there,” Amber explains.
“We offer support for rangatahi to help them achieve their goals, whether it’s educational, work or training based, or personal. It’s really based on what is going on with them and what they want to achieve.”
The tautoko offered can include things like counselling, help with creating a CV and cover letters, job applications and interviews, acting as an advocate with family or school, through to options like driving lessons to obtain a driver's licence, alternative education options, certificate and qualification options, general health and well-being options.
Having a dedicated youth coach to reach out to at any time helps rangatahi build their capabilities and their confidence.
Feedback from those who have been part of the programme is overwhelmingly positive, with one recent rangatahi expressing that “I feel privileged that I was a part of these services”.
Even once the programme is explained, there can still be resistance to engaging with the service and all it has to offer. Amber encourages those who may feel hesitant about participating to consider this:
“Knowledge is power. We all have different skills and tools that we can help others to put in their kete. Sometimes you may not have something specific that your child or family member needs, so utilise the services that are available to you, utilise us. Give it a go – you never know what might come from it!”
Kaiako, whānau, and anyone with connections to rangatahi in the Waikato region can get in touch with Youth Services to see if their rangatahi is eligible.
Pūrongo whakahirahira
Featured stories
Finding a deeper sense of self through te ao Māori
Moving to Aotearoa from rural Australia as a teenager, Lily Warring found herself wanting to learn more about the culture and language of the place she now called home.
A journey shaped by whānau and a love of tamariki
Members of Tayla-Marie Takawe’s (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto) whānau were among the first tauira to graduate from the Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Reconnecting to te ao Māori through raranga
Haylee Roussel (Ngāti Rārua, Rangitāne, Ngāti Maniapoto) was searching for a way to reconnect with te ao Māori when she enrolled in the Certificate in Māori and Indigenous Art, Raranga, at the Waiwhero campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Creating the spark for business success
With plenty of experience as an electrician, Josh Verstraten was ready to branch out from employee to business owner, but he knew running a successful business would require a new set of skills.
From financial stress to financial freedom for Auckland whānau
For Augustine Kopa, studying the Certificate in Money Management at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa was about creating a better future for her whānau.
Two generations, one reo Māori journey
When Melody Francis (Ngāti Kahungunu) saw the positive impact that studying te reo Māori had on her mum, she decided to jump on the waka and begin the journey alongside her.
Tikanga study boosts whānau presence on marae
Patrick and Donna Tobin (Ngāti Kahu) are a brother-and-sister duo studying tikanga alongside their wider whānau at Te Paatu Marae in Kaitaia, all working towards the betterment of their whānau, iwi, and marae.
A teacher’s path to understanding tikanga
Originally from South Africa, Franda Zondagh has called Aotearoa home since 2003, but it was through studying He Papa Tikanga with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa that she began to feel a deeper connection to the place she lives and people she serves in her mahi.
Leading by example and learning te reo Māori
Liisa Wharepapa’s (Te Whānau ā Apanui) journey with te reo Māori wasn’t something that happened overnight, it was a goal waiting to be pursued until the moment she felt ready to take that step.
Returning home and reclaiming te reo Māori
After many years away building his professional career, Logan Bertram (Whakatōhea), returned home to Ōpōtiki with a clear goal of reconnecting with his whakapapa and creating a better future for his young whānau.
