Rangatahi Supported to Gain Valuable Skills and Experience through Partnerships

Goodtime Foundation

A partnership with Goodtime Music Academy, Hutt City Council, Silverstream Park Christian Centre, Windows Trust, MusicWorks, Upper Hutt Youth Community Trust and Kaibosh will support around 78 young New Zealanders from disadvantaged backgrounds to access leadership, mentoring and volunteering opportunities through the medium of music.

Based in Lower Hutt, Wellington, the Goodtime Foundation programme has three elements. The Gap Year Internship is a high intensity 46-week long programme which sees interns being trained and mentored in relevant industry skills such as music, performance, event management, video production and more. The Volunteer Leaders programme is for young people aged 15-19 years who will be mentored and supported to deliver lessons and tutorials to younger participants.

Lastly, the Scholarship Music programme will offer 12-15 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds an opportunity to access music tuition. The Goodtime Foundation programme has adopted a tuakana/teina approach in that each programme’s participants mentor, support and learn from each other.

“Through their involvement in the Goodtime Foundation programme, rangatahi will be supported to develop long-term, meaningful relationships with peers and mentors while learning valuable skills in the field of music production,” says Rachel Hopkins, MYD Partnership Fund Board Chair.

“Goodtime Music Academy is absolutely thrilled to be partnering to deliver this revolutionary new project. This particular project has been a dream of ours for many years and we are super excited for all the young lives it's going to impact!” says Jonny Wilson, Academy Director – Goodtime Music Academy.

Te Hono, Te Oho, Te Ohonga Ake

Delivered by Māori Women’s Development Incorporated (MWDI), the Te Hono, Te Oho, Te Ohonga Ake programme aims to support rangatahi Māori to develop enterprise skills through an innovative kaupapa Māori approach. This initiative will provide rangatahi a deeper understanding of Māori enterprise, access to mentors (both peers and adults), training, and access to tools and networks to help develop viable enterprises.

The programme will be shaped and led by rangatahi through a collaborative approach and co-design method. Around 150 young Māori will participate, with particular focus on providing access to young women. They will be supported to learn skills such critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity.

“This partnership with MWDI will develop the enterprise capabilities of rangatahi via an authentic kaupapa Māori learning experience that celebrates Māori culture and practices,” said Rachel Hopkins, MYD Partnership Fund Board Chair.

MWDI CEO, Teresa Tepania-Ashton, says "Māori Women’s Development Inc. is excited about its partnership with MYD to co-fund Te Oho, a series of practical wananga that will help expose more rangatahi in Tāmaki Makaurau to experiences in technology, training and access to further employment experience. Now that MWDI is expanding its focus to build capability and business capacity in tech for youth, we see this as our way of contributing to the future. MWDI looks forward to delivering Te Oho to benefit young people, in particular young women and their whānau."  

Touch Compass Youth Film Project

Around 100 rangatahi with hearing impairments and other disabilities will be supported to gain knowledge and skills in filmmaking through a new partnership with Foundation North, Auckland Council, Kelston Deaf Education Centre, Auckland Deaf Society and Just Dance Krazy.

Touch Compass Trust is an inclusive professional dance company for people of all abilities. Based in Auckland, with some participants coming from Waikato and Northland, The Youth Film Project is about giving rangatahi a voice and an opportunity to be heard. The project will be youth-led, with support and mentoring provided by professionals from the film and performing arts sectors.

Participants will have opportunities to become mentors on subsequent projects and volunteer their knowledge and skills into community groups. They will make connections in the film industry and their completed work will be distributed and screened both nationally and internationally. Touch Compass is keen to promote the use of New Zealand Sign Language in films which will be of interest to other young people and teachers throughout Aotearoa.

“Rangatahi will have the chance to learn new skills, lead and participate in decision-making, and mentor others in a supportive environment,” says Rachel Hopkins, MYD Partnership Fund Board Chair.

“Touch Compass is delighted to partner with the Ministry of Youth Development. By providing young people with disabilities with the skills to develop and produce their own films, telling their stories will enable a more cohesive society where every young New Zealander’s talents are valued. This is an exciting time for Touch Compass and we are thrilled to be able to play our part in developing the next generation of outstanding young New Zealanders,” says Charlotte Nightingale, General Manager – Touch Compass.

Te Roopu tiaki Rangatahi

Through a partnership with the Department of Internal Affairs and Porirua City Council, MYD will support Te Roopu tiaki Rangatahi (TRtR) to create intergenerational change for around 120 young people in Porirua East, Wellington. Wesley Community Action, Taeaomanino Trust, Compass Health, and Maraeroa Health Clinic have joined forces to create TRtR which aims to support young people to shape their futures.

Through existing and new programmes, young people will gain the knowledge, encouragement and connections they need to support real change for themselves and their whānau. The youth-focused initiatives will provide social support, education, improved health, and cultural and wellbeing experiences. Rangatahi will also be supported to design any new programmes that are required to fulfil TRtR’s aims.

“A key feature of this programme is ‘one point of entry’. This means that rangatahi will be offered access to a broad suite of supports necessary for them to set and pursue life-long goals, reflect on their experiences, and take progressive action towards their aspirations,” said Rachel Hopkins, MYD Partnership Fund Board Chair.

Wesley Community Action Director, David Hanna, says they’re excited to be involved in the project, which builds on the experience the four partner organisations have gained from many years working with communities in Porirua.

“The more we learn about creating change, the more we realise how important it is to bring children and young people to the table to lead their own futures. We’re looking forward to working with our partners to help rangatahi develop and deliver projects that are youth-focused and youth-led,” says David.

Eclipse Project

The Eclipse Project is a high intensity youth development programme operating in Tokoroa in the South Waikato region. This partnership with Vodafone New Zealand Foundation and Activate Tokoroa Church will support around 60 at-risk young people to build leadership skills, develop resilience and make positive life choices.

Rangatahi will work on setting and attaining achievable goals and enhancing their hauora while being mentored by peers and adults. They will have input into programme activities and will be given the opportunity to make and execute leadership decisions.

“Tokoroa’s young people will have opportunities to grow and develop in a supportive environment. Through increasing self-confidence and wellbeing, rangatahi will be provided with alternative pathways so that they thrive now and in the future,” says Rachel Hopkins, MYD Partnership Fund Board Chair.

“Rangatahi participating in the project will gain the valuable advantage of learning and leading activities in a tuakana/teina setting, displaying their ability to be rangatira of their group. This reinforces leading by example, positive encouragement, increasing resilience and well-being all while developing steps to promote positive life choices and strategies to face and overcome work place and social challenges,” says Christina Ogle, Funding and Programme Coordinator/Youth Mentor – Eclipse Project.

Te Uru Rangi Scholarships

A partnership with Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will create youth development opportunities for around 42 young Māori through Te Uru Rangi Scholarships, delivered through Enspiral Dev Academy.

The digital economy represents jobs and industries of the future, but Māori have very low participation in this area. These scholarships aim to train and support young Māori to become tech and business leaders. Rangatahi will participate in an 18-week training course, which includes mentoring by Enspiral’s Kaiāwhina Māori, to become Junior Web Developers.

“Te Uru Rangi Scholarships create a huge opportunity for more young Māori to enter a booming industry and secure jobs that value ingenuity, diversity and collaboration,” says Rachel Hopkins, MYD Partnership Fund Board Chair.

“Enspiral Dev Academy is honoured to partner with MYD in support of our Te Uru Rangi programme. The outcomes so far have been overwhelming as we have seen 20+ exceptional Māori students flourishing on the bootcamp, graduating and picking up awesome software development roles in companies such as Datacom and Xero, or going on to start their own businesses. We're very excited to see the long-term impact this has nationwide as a new wave of Māori web developers sweep the country,” says Rohan Wakefield, CEO – Enspiral Dev Academy.

Dine Academy Bootcamps

MYD’s Partnership Fund will continue to support DINE Academy Bootcamps, which are designed to support young people to develop work readiness skills, improve their communication skills, self-esteem and confidence, and secure employment. Dine Academy Trust provides high impact hospitality training programmes for rangatahi which include mentoring by industry professionals and on-location work experience.

This ongoing partnership with Spotless Ltd, Delaware North, and Hospitality Training Trust will provide development opportunities for around 200 young people aged 15 to 24 years. SKYCITY Auckland is a new partner this year.

“This continued partnership will build on the success of previous DINE Academy Bootcamps. Young people will gain practical skills and hands-on experience at major hospitality events which will support them as they move forwards into fulfilling careers,” says Rachel Hopkins, MYD Partnership Fund Board Chair.

“DINE’s industry-led pre-employment bootcamps are a win-win transformative social solution for young people, schools, career pathways, families, industry, communities and society, as we engage and nurture youth into the culture of employment, events, tourism, and helping others,” says Sonia Tiatia, Founder and General Manager – DINE Academy.

Additional Information

Ministry of Youth Development - Te Manatū Whakahiato Taiohi - Partnership Fund

A key aspect of the direction for the Ministry of Youth Development (MYD) is the establishment of partnerships with the business and philanthropic sectors, iwi and other government organisations to collectively engage with and collaborate to support quality youth development opportunities. Read more about the Partnership Fund.

GOODTIME FOUNDATION

Partners

Goodtime Music Academy, Hutt City Council, Silverstream Park Christian Centre, Windows Trust, MusicWorks, Upper Hutt Youth Community Trust and Kaibosh

TE HONO, TE OHO TE OHONGA AKE

Partners

Māori Women’s Development Incorporated

TOUCH COMPASS YOUTH FILM PROJECT

Partners

Foundation North, Auckland Council, Kelston Deaf Education Centre, Auckland Deaf Society and Just Dance Krazy

TE ROOPU TIAKI RANGATAHI

Partners

Department of Internal Affairs and Porirua City Council

ECLIPSE PROJECT

Partners

Vodafone New Zealand Foundation and Activate Tokoroa Church

TE URU RANGI SCHOLARSHIPS

Partners

Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

DINE ACADEMY BOOTCAMPS

Partners

SKYCITY Auckland, Spotless Ltd, Delaware North and Hospitality Training Trust