Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Be-Da-Day… Stevie Wonder. The Man. A wiked day, coming to the end of an epic month. Kickin it in the back of the room listening to a live rehearsal while I reflect on how we got to where we are now…

That was a week ago now, back there in the rehearsal room, life came along and moved me onto the next gig, to the next task, and the sitting to reflect got left singing along where it was…

Now. I’m up north in Te Tai Tokerau, Te Nōta, kei te rongo i te mita, i te hā ō tōku nei kāinga. Te reka hoki! We have been rolling for a week now, cranking up the start of our Hui ā-Kura, our school workshop tour catalysing rangatahi Māori out in the regions in their action learning journey, seeking out the kōrero ō neherā, the old stories, legends that are connected with the significant water features in their region.

Wai - water, is our main kaupapa for the year and it’s so confirming to see that it IS an extremely relevant and connected kaupapa for the students and communities that we are working with. Right now in a lot of the far north there are water shortages and creeks drying up because of droughts, so helping rangatahi connect to their wai, and bringing alive the stories of their tupuna has been a massive privilege! The energy of the students and the richness of the stories that they are sharing with us is totally enriching our journey and the scenery and beauty of the north is awesome. The other awesome thing about jamming with rangatahi Māori about wai is that we got to rock it out at the different awa and jump off the bridges! Meeean bombs all around!!

Tonight, on sunset, we found ourselves enjoying fish and chips on the beach at Waitangi after a massive day! The morning started in the mist crossing the ferry from Rawene over to Kohukohu, from there the drive out to Panguru flew by, and after a quick detour to the beach at Mitimiti we were welcomed onto Te Kura Taumata o Panguru by the whole school, spending the day with the senior crew there then rolling from the west to the east in the sunshine…

Casting my mind back, in Pūmahara mode I’m seeing that there are two distinct types of work that I’m finding myself engaged in, after blowing a week out pulling together a funding application for one of our projects (enabling work) I’m now spending my days jamming with the students and my crew (contact work) Definitely seeing and confirming where my passions lie and learning new skills as we roll through the work…

Back to the day in the rehearsal room, what I was going to write about was that in the short space of 3 hours, 3 meetings in a row, for 3 different parts of the project, the 3 outcomes were awesome, my skype call with a spoken word / slam poet crew member from Youth Speaks Hawai’i laid foundations for them to come over and be part of Te Aho Tū Roa - Kōtuia! later on in the year, the meeting with our graphics man bounced up some good design concepts that are developing the visual identity for the Jam and the crew, and the meeting hooked up with Hector at Te Whariki put into place a meeting the next week to develop an evaluation process for the year.. so feeling good…

Youth Speaks Hawai’i Crew - Kaona

One of the key things I am focusing on is respecting myself, respecting my body and respecting my limits, so to keep true to my focus, I’m going to sleep.

Mauri ora ki a koutou katoa!

Te Rawhitiroa

The welcoming in of 2010 was a significant milestone in the history of Youthline as we celebrate our 40th anniversary of Youthline supporting young people in New Zealand communities. As the organisation has grown and diversified, I remember that at the heart of what we do is our volunteer led helpline, and an ethos of the community taking responsibility for others in the community.

Youthline house has had a makeover! Gone is the distinct Yellow, and now we are the big blue building in Ponsonby! Plus we have a hole in our carpark… The Youthline Manukau Development Centre resource consent was processed, and the portable building was moved to the site on the 22nd of January 2010!

That was just in time to make space to erect a marquee for Prime Minister John Key’s  visit to unveil a commemorative 40th Birthday plaque. At this special occasion Prime Minister spoke about the work we do at Youthline as potentially the last port of call for those who need support, guidance and help. These were significant words considering the governments funding cuts that have left our volunteer training programmes in need of $40K, a shaky position.

The Mentor Strategy session at the end of January was a landmark moment for my project. This team of passionate Youthline volunteers came together to reflect on how we have grown and how we can sustain the work beyond my WOD year. The outpouring of ideas attested to the power of the group and that this group will always be moving and changing as the need of our clients and our service evolve.

Pulling the pieces of the project pie together. ..We finished off 2009 with some visits to the Manukau and Auckland Central Youth Advisory Groups to excite and connect our younger people with the opportunities for them to volunteer on the helpline. This is paving the way for our TEXT training programme which will be piloted this year. I am working alongside the Youth Workers to strengthen the ways in which we develop leadership and connect young people in positions across the organisation. The text medium has provided us with new chance to engage young people in serving their peers in the community.

Enjoy the summer!
Tiffany

Since I last reported it has been extremely busy times. Lots of young people partied in and around the Nelson area over the summer period. Our services, workers and volunteers have been at full capacity, which is great but has meant we have had to turn down some event organisers who required our services. The media portrayed young people in quite a negative light over the New Year’s period but our experiences were that the overwhelming majority of young people were in good spirits and behaving like responsible citizens.

I have been supporting the YOUTHTRAIN young people to volunteer on our recreation and beach contracts and they have really stepped up to the job. I have been Coordinating HYPE-GS’s involvement in the Nelson Tasman Skatepark tour which is 7 skate park competitions throughout January in a variety of locations. These events are really popular with both competitors and spectators and I love working these events because of the positive vibes. I have also coordinated workers at a number of other events throughout the region such as the Takaka Mardi Gras and the beach ambassador service over the Christmas and New Year period.

Unfortunately I have has to deal with some situations which are the less desirable parts of my job like being a witness at a parole hearing in Christchurch and spending time de-briefing staff after serious incidents relating to violence, alcohol and other drug use and mental health. However, we learn and we grow individually and as and organisation from such interventions.

I am now in reporting, planning, funding and WOD wind down mode while factoring in some well deserved rest, recuperation and dog walking! This means not being tempted to work many shifts on our services and upcoming events. This is hard as my passion is getting out there and working with young people and communities but if I do the paperwork just won’t get done!

It’s the final quarter and my quietness on the blog front is not a reflection of a quiet working world this November and December!!

For the past 2 months my calendar has been packed full of events! Much tooing and frooing to Wellington was done for the Volunteering New Zealand Conference (where Lani’s crew of young volunteers stole the show), then to Parliament for a special Foundation presentation to MPS in the Great Hall, and back the following week for a Youthline National Executive meeting.

November kicked off with the World of Difference 2010 announcement event and induction day. This was an exciting time to meet with the new recipients and hear about the wonderful work they are going to be doing next year. What an incredible bunch of young leaders: they left me with a sense of inspiration that anything is possible if there is passion and commitment.

As they look forward to new beginnings we are busily wrapping up a very full year at Youthline House. And we have been busy in the hub! Celebrations abound for the mentor team who have DOUBLED the number of trainee counsellors who have graduated to solo this semester from 2008. What has been most awesome is that we have managed to do all this hard work whilst keeping the team happy and relaxed so that they can begin the year afresh in 2010 with lots of positive energy for their work. Our final Mentors team meeting was a chance to celebrate and look back at how far we have come as a team! Wooooooo hoooooooo thanks Vodafone!

Mid November I was invited to speak at the Vodafone induction day sharing with new employees a little bit about the impact the World of difference programme has had on Youthline and how volunteering has changed my life. I relished in the opportunity to reconnect with the sense of purpose this work has given me.

Events continued to make up my calendar with a morning on the Grey Lynn festival Stall. Fight Night: Fight for Youth followed and we raised over $10,000 for our Manukau Centre, and supported our own Georgina ‘cool hands’ Clarke in the ring, beating her opponent and doing the Youthline Whanau proud.

Back on the home front more preparation was in action for the volunteers ‘Red Featuring White’ Christmas party. Red and white adorned volunteers packed the dance floor- they sure know how to party! Amongst all the silliness we had the opportunity to celebrate everyone’s contribution through the year and to announce our inaugural Volunteer of the Year award. A special taonga had been carved and blessed for the occasion and the votes had been coming in fast and furious for 2weeks. The nominees were the top 10 contributors on the helpline, this group did a staggering 700 volunteer hours combined in 2009- that’s 30 days work, day and night.

Youthline CEO Stephen Bell (left) Volunteer of the Year Jaimee Lynn McPhee (centre) and Tiffany (right)

24 year old Jaime Lynn McPhee was the winner and received the award with grace and modesty. She is known to her peers as incredibly compassionate, always able to provide enlightening perspectives and has deep empathy and understanding.
What a way to end the year and bring on the holidays! 

MERI KIRIMETE
Tiffany