Projects

Projects and Workshops are just some of the the things that we here at Te Whakaritorito excel at. Watch the video below to see one of our projects on raising self confidence

Projects Nurturing Talents

By expanding children’s interests, helping them be creative, looking for outside activities, keeping a variety of resources at home and showing genuine respect, children will value you more as someone who can help them nurture their talents and expand their vision. We aim to provide team building, leadership and cooperative learning skills that build self-identity for secondary readiness leading to worthwhile citizens. This is achieved by working in collective partnership with community groups or schools and offering safe mentors with a track record in a chosen activity.

When young people take ownership of an activity, they feel more worthwhile and experience increased self-confidence. They learn new vocabulary from a cultural activity based on personal experience and peer support. Enjoyment from participating in a team activity transfers to other pursuits giving children an increased sense of belonging to their school or community group. Ongoing benefits and improvements are arrived at through feedback from principals, lead teachers, mentors and students with support from the youth mentors’ coach.

Edible Gardening Projects

Fruit Forest, Napier Family Centre

Gardening in schools

“I feel this is a very worthy project as it helps people access better nutrition, exercise and getting involved in gardening can do wonders for their self-esteem. I think it should be encouraged in schools.Then hopefully this will carry on into adult life and help people become more self-reliant” Robin Davis, Napier Community Foodbank Trust

We were aiming to foster a more caring attitude and develop further the values of sustainability and respect.The children were taught about soil preparation, planting, growing seedlings, transplanting, composting and harvesting. There was a sense of achievement and pride in what they had managed!” Andrew Seager, Gardening Mentor

Volunteering Projects

There are many ways to fit mentoring into your lifestyle. You may mentor informally when you have time, set a weekly appointment, or even mentor through a favourite cultural activity that inspires you.  Mentoring young people can be as worthwhile as helping with community gardens, passing on guitar skills, driving kids to team practices or assisting a youth mentor at a local  school. You may help with homework or assist with school based activities. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer we would be glad to sit down and discuss various options with you.

If you are curious, here are some reasons as to why people might volunteer:

• Do something they really enjoy
• Share special interests, talents and capabilities
• Learn new skills and get a better balance in life
• Make new friends and be part of a team
• Find out more about life-long choices
• Meet new people with similar interests
• Gain guidance and experience which may lead to further knowledge and paid employment

And if someone chooses to volunteer with Te Whakaritorito, they can ease into things by helping with:

• Walking Trips
  • Whanau visits to parks, gardens and beaches
• Workshops
  • Taking a break to learn from shared experiences
• Youth Club
  • Young people share fun, crafts and camaraderie
• Hui & Socials
  • Fellowship with mentors or other volunteers
• Holiday Events
  • Recreation and adventure training with children

Or they can be introduced to activities that may interest them such as:

• Youth activities
  • Helping with refreshments and facilitating Youth Club
• Te Whakaritorito Newsletter
  • Assisting with Articles, Graphics, Poems, Puzzles, etc.
• Fundraising
  • Garage Sales, Plant Fairs, Gifting pre-loved objects that are no longer needed
• Assistant Mentor
  • Volunteering alongside a Youth Mentor in a school with a particular activity such as Kapa Haka or Gardening
• Gardening
  • Helping grow seedlings in a community or trust garden
• Technology
  • Assisting with PC applications and/or development of the Trust website
• Networking with supporters

Occupational Coaching Projects

Choosing an occupation requires two things:

• Soul Searching
  • Looking at yourself, focusing attention on your aspirations, achievements, abilities, interests and values.
• Gathering information and resources
  • Finding out as much information as you can about the volunteer and work pathways available to you.

To further understand make a list of category headings that interest you such as:

• Art
• Technology
• Science
• Music
• Outdoors

The main idea behind this is to think about each of these interest groups and pick a few that hold a lot of interest for you. Under each heading list your abilities and motivation. Using the image below, ask yourself each of these questions to gain a better understanding of what it is that you actually want to do.

The next step is introducing you to an occupational coach who has your interests at heart. You will be shown how to apply for work in a chosen organisation. A job choice plan can be designed matching your interests and motivational abilities. Our occupational coach is available if you have any problems or concerns while seeking work. So please feel free to contact us at any time. While working you can receive further coaching and support in a number of areas to help you attain progress with your work placement and further learning options.

Why don’t we normally work to our motivated abilities?

Pressures from society, from parents, peers or school teachers can cause us to discount or even ignore our inborn talents. Thus they may not be developed into a skill in our formative years. For young people discovery of motivated abilities can lead to new occupational paths. For adults, the identification of talents and abilities can give renewed purpose with job changes, and alternative learning opportunities in the world of work. “~A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, to ultimately be at peace with themselves.”