ISSN 1177-2379 (Online) Newsletter of the Ministry of Youth Development ISSUE 21 MAY 2010 The Foundation for Youth Development’s MYND programme The Mentoring Youth New Direction (MYND) programme run by Foundation of Youth Development (FYD) since July 2008 and has been developed. The programme operates in the Auckland area and caters for young people aged 14 – 17 years. The young people are recommended by the Police and the Ministry of Social Development because of offending and anti-social behaviour. MYND works with over 100 young people every year regarded as being in the ‘too hard basket’. FYD has been contributing to the Fresh Start Mentoring concept as part of the Government’s new policies. FYD and the MYND team have been working hard with the Ministry of Social Development to align operations in preparation for ‘Fresh Start’, including developing a ‘revolving door’ concept allowing the flexibility to access the MYND programme as and when required. New mentoring camps have also been introduced each month to help build on the positive relations between staff and young people. The camp is delivered in an outdoor environment free from distractions and negative influences and includes pro-social activities, teambuilding and personal development initiatives. Steve Boxer, MYND Programme Manager says “previously we took three intakes to the programme per year, meaning some young people within the youth justice system would either miss out or have to wait before they could receive the support MYND offers. “Now as soon as an individual is referred via the Ministry of Social Development, we can start working with them and their family almost straight away. This is invaluable in the process of reducing re-offending, encouraging skill development, helping these young people to connect with their community and get back on a positive path.” The Ministry of Youth Development contributes to nine Project K programmes run by the FYD throughout New Zealand. “Now as soon as an individual is referred via the Ministry of Social Development, we can start working with them and their family almost straight away.” The Ministry of Youth Development has joined Facebook The Ministry has a Facebook page that you can follow and find out information as we post it. We’d also like you to ask us questions and let us know what you are thinking and about stuff that is happening in your community. Come and follow us on our Facebook. CLICK HERE TO LINK TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
Transcript
ISSN 1177-2379 (Online)
Newsletter of the Ministry of Youth DevelopmentISSUE 21 MAY 2010
The Foundation for Youth Development’s MYND programmeThe Mentoring Youth New Direction (MYND) programme run by Foundation of Youth Development (FYD) since July 2008 and has been developed.
The programme operates in the Auckland
area and caters for young people aged
14 – 17 years. The young people are
recommended by the Police and the
Ministry of Social Development because
of offending and anti-social behaviour.
MYND works with over 100 young
people every year regarded as being
in the ‘too hard basket’.
FYD has been contributing to the Fresh
Start Mentoring concept as part of the
Government’s new policies. FYD and the
MYND team have been working hard
with the Ministry of Social Development
to align operations in preparation for
‘Fresh Start’, including developing a
‘revolving door’ concept allowing the
flexibility to access the MYND
programme as and when required.
New mentoring camps have also been
introduced each month to help build on
the positive relations between staff and
young people. The camp is delivered in
an outdoor environment free from
distractions and negative influences
and includes pro-social activities,
teambuilding and personal development
initiatives.
Steve Boxer, MYND Programme Manager
says “previously we took three intakes to
the programme per year, meaning some
young people within the youth justice
system would either miss out or have to
wait before they could receive the
support MYND offers.
“Now as soon as an individual is referred
via the Ministry of Social Development,
we can start working with them and
their family almost straight away. This is
invaluable in the process of reducing
re-offending, encouraging skill
development, helping these young
people to connect with their community
and get back on a positive path.”
The Ministry of Youth Development
contributes to nine Project K
programmes run by the FYD throughout
New Zealand.
“ Now as soon as an individual is referred via the Ministry of Social Development, we can start working with them and their family almost straight away.”
a
The Ministry of Youth Development has joined Facebook
The Ministry has a Facebook page that you can follow and find out information as we post it. We’d also like you to ask us questions and let us know what you are thinking and about stuff that is happening in your community.
Come and follow us on our Facebook.
CLICK HERE TO LINK TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
IN THIS ISSUE…
The Foundation for Youth Development’s MYND programme 1
The Ministry of Youth Development has joined Facebook 1
Youth Parliament 2010 2
Stage Challenge 2
Youth in local Government Conference 3
Youth Week 22–28 May 2010 3
Getting heard at the uN through Digital Stories 4
leadership Week 25 June – 2 July 2010 4
AMP Scholarship Programme 4
Spirit of Adventure – Dreams do come true – luke’s Story 5
Activate members 6
stage challenge
YOUth parLiament 2010Youth Parliament 2010 is an opportunity for young New Zealanders to learn about New Zealand’s democracy and infl uence public decision-making.
The Ministry of Youth Development contributes funding to a number of national programmes including Stage Challenge.
Find out more about Stage Challenge
and where and when young people
will be performing in your region.
“If you want to get the
opinions of young people
about how to make the
downtown area better,
go down there and ask
young people who hang
out there.”
YOUTH ADVISORY GROUP
MEMBER, 17 YEARS OLD
FOR YOUR COPY OF AOTEAROA YOUTH VOICES TOOLKIT, EMAIL [email protected]
FrOm OUr aotearoa Youth voices toolkit resource...
22–28 may 2010Youth Week is all about celebrating young people.
This year Youth Week runs from
22-28 May and has a theme of Rangatahi
Ora: Wh-anau Ora, connecting young
people and their wh-anau/families.
The Youth Week theme is based on the
whakatauki “He tina ki runga, he tamore
ki raro. Contentment above, strongly
rooted below.” The theme and
whakatauki are the foundation of the
Youth Week resources.
This year’s Youth Week challenge is for all
wh-anau to strengthen their relationships
with rangatahi in their wh-anau.
Youth Week aims to create a society that
values young people and affi rms their
diversity. The week highlights the
amazing things young people do all year.
Young people are those aged 12-24.
Youth Week’s vision is “A country where
young people are vibrant and optimistic
through being supported and
encouraged to take up challenges”.
Youth Week is about encouraging
young people’s participation and
connections to their communities.
The Ministry of Youth Development
contributes funding to Youth Week
each year.
FOR MORe INFORMATION VISIT
www.youthweek.co.nz
Youth in Local Government ConferenceRory McCourt attended the Youth in Local Government Conference in April. He has written about the experience for 12to24.
Picture this: three hundred people in a stadium linking their
thumbs, lifting their hands to the sky making fi nger bird
puppets, as if their digits were soaring. Smiles fi ll their faces.
Giggles escape from their lips. It was at this point that I fi rst
thought funding could be fun. The Youth in local Government
Conference hosted by Porirua City and sponsored by the
Ministry of Youth Development and the Mayors’ Taskforce
for Jobs marked many fi rsts for me.
The three-day event included informative workshops, practical
suggestions, invaluable networking and awesome speakers.
Could there be any better way to up skill myself as Tairawhiti Youth
Voice’s Chairperson? I learnt how to make a sweet submission
to council, how to engage with the local media and even how
to spice up Youth Council meetings with games and activities.
But, perhaps my biggest highlight was being selected as a
national representative of youth to the conference itself. This
involved examining the highs, lows and bumps in the road the
incredibly diverse range of Youth Councillors had highlighted.
I was surprised to see so much in common across the nation.
It was a delight to see how much the youth involved in these
organisations want to improve their communities and make
a difference. Yeah, they want to get M.A.D. Issues such as
tokenism, lack of funding and lack of buy-in from adults all
featured as thorns in the side of youth councils from The Cape
to The Bluff. The four national reps were charged with reporting
back these things to the conference.
As weird as it sounds, I wanted to speak on funding. But,
before you judge me, surely you can guess why. Without the
molah we can’t get that MAD. We can’t do that much in our
communities. Sometimes, without funding, we can’t even meet.
Funding is unfortunately very important. So I spoke on it, and
raised the idea of guaranteed annual funding to Youth Councils
(instead of small case-by-case basis grants). I talked about the
need for security for Youth Advisory Groups and Youth Councils
fi nancially and how we can let these organisations soar instead
of jumping from cliff to cliff, from grant to grant, hoping that the
next period without funding won’t destroy their organisation.
From my three days in the beautiful Porirua City, I took away
new skills, new friendships and new ideas. Those three days,
those dozens of speakers, those hundreds of fi red up youth
have given me the inspiration to go out there and just do it. To
make not only my Youth Council, but my whole nation a better
place. Thank you to all those who contributed to it - great
conference and great people.
PAGE 3 MAY 2010
GettinG heard at the UN through Digital Stories
The stories themselves are unique
and diverse; they give a contrasting
picture of New Zealand and a
challenge to those of us working
with young people.
While many young people felt
New Zealand was a great place to live,
there are clear messages of bullying and
discrimination. There are the very sad,
but real stories of young people being
drawn to gang culture because it is
‘safer’ than what is happening at home.
There also are stories that talk about the
complex and difficult relationship
between the Police and young people.
There are the individual stories – ones
that talk about employment, public
transport, parents in prison, the
treatment of cultural leaders, local
government and education.
“The project is exciting. MYD helped us
sign on organisations across New Zealand
through its networks. We had more
people opting in to tell their story and
had to extend the group size,” says
project leader Dr Fiona Beals.
“ It might not be that we are not asking young people about their opinion but that we are not asking in a way that young people recognise as listening and caring. This might be why more and more organisations are turning to social networking sites,” said Dr Beals.
Leadership Week highlights the strategic relevance and value that great leadership provides for New Zealand and showcases the work being done to develop our nation’s leadership capability.
Organisations, businesses and schools around the country
take part in a range of activities designed to inspire, develop
and celebrate great Kiwi leadership.
leadership Week kicks off with the Sir Peter Blake leadership
Awards on 25th June and culminates with a national Red
Socks Day on 2nd July, when New Zealanders are encouraged
to ‘wear the socks of a leader’ in memory of a great Kiwi
leader and his legacy of leadership in action.
The AMP Scholarship Programme aims to help Kiwis
with passion and determination to do their thing, with a
total scholarship pool of $200,000 and 11 Regional
Scholarships up for grabs.
This programme is all about celebrating Kiwi diversity.
It’s open to any New Zealand citizen or permanent resident –
there is no age limit or restrictions. It’s about helping
passionate Kiwis do their thing – whether their thing is a
community project, business idea, education or a dream to
represent their country.
TAKe A lOOK AT TheIR WeBSITe
http://www.doyourthing.co.nz
The Ministry of Youth Development (MYD), Save the Children New Zealand and Dr Fiona Beals from Global Focus Aotearoa have been using digital storytelling to weave together a report on young people’s perspectives of their rights in New Zealand for the United Nations.
PAGE 4 MAY 2010
Spirit of Adventure – Dreams do come true – Luke’s StoryBy being involved in the Spirit of Adventure Luke Galuszewski has shown that, by realising your potential and overcoming others’ expectations, dreams do come true.
As a 17-year-old luke sailed on a voyage for disabled young
people and found opportunities to challenge himself and step
outside his comfort zone. he got hooked and then went on a
three-year crusade to successfully apply for and secure a
cadetship. luke volunteered on many day sails, open days,
training weekends and weekend sailings to demonstrate his
commitment and skills.
luke volunteered to be a buddy at 18 on the next disabled
voyage to support the trainees in a way that he had
experienced. he found it amazing to witness and be part of
helping someone totally blind leap into the sea without any
worry; or to observe a young trainee with short sight teaching
the rest of his team how a sail should be set, while unable to
see the rigging; or to accompany a trainee with a limb missing
to climb to the top of the mast with ease.
The tall ship Spirit of New Zealand allows young people to move
outside the label they have been given and push past limits they
have known.
luke went on to be an active member of the Voyagers Club (for
ex-trainees), volunteering to serve on many youth development
sailings during 2007. At 20 he successfully secured a fifteen-
month cadetship on Spirit of New Zealand.
Throughout 2008 and 2009, he undertook study at the
Maritime School for his IlM (Inshore launch Master). The study
was hard but again, passion, dedication and commitment to
succeed drove luke to achieve this goal.
he says, ‘The support of the Masters, colleagues and staff at the
Spirit of Adventure Trust to support and mentor me through my
Continued on page 6 >>
PAGE 5 MAY 2010
studies was amazing. The experience I gained by volunteering
and working on Spirit of New Zealand really helped with my
studies as I was able to take the practice and put it alongside
the theory to get meaning.’
luke is now a Third Mate on Spirit of New Zealand and last year
was honoured at the Trust’s annual general meeting with the
“Sextant Award” for the most promising cadet.
he wants to sail on tall ships overseas and take part in a Tall Ships
race. longer term he is looking at boat building but says he will
always come back to work as a volunteer with other youth.
“I was brought up to believe that I was able to do anything in
my life if I put my mind to it.”
The Spirit of Adventure Trust has been working alongside
schools and community groups for the past 38 years providing
“equal opportunity to all young New Zealanders to develop the
qualities of leadership, independence, resilience, teamwork
through the medium of the sea.” Ten days at sea on a tall ship
is a uniquely challenging and exciting experience that delivers
significant personal and social development.
The trust has work with around 75,000 youth in its time and
has an active volunteer base of 2,000 throughout New Zealand.
Working with these volunteers, who donate their time, energy,
and skills unselfishly every year, is a truly humbling experience.
Their belief in the youth of New Zealand and commitment to
the programme is profound.
In 2009 the Spirit of Adventure Trust established a partnership
with the Ministry of Youth Development to deliver youth
outcomes in the areas of education, training and employment,
personal development and social development.
This relationship, coupled with the findings from 2006 research
at the university of Otago and research to be published in 2010,
endorses the value of the programme being provided to the
youth of New Zealand and communities they come from.
The new data includes findings such as: significant increase in
self-esteem, self-efficacy, reliance, leadership skills and ability to
withstand negative peer influence; also noted is a decrease in
gender prejudice. Ongoing studies, on the effectiveness of the
programme and to guide future development, continue to be
carried out.
As an organization we have also been reviewing the current
Youth Development Strategy and where we fit and contribute
to New Zealand society, as well as looking for collaborative
partners in the corporate and educational sectors.
each year, the Ministry of Youth Development (MYD)
contributes $250,000 towards 800 spaces on the Spirit of
Adventure Trust 10-day youth development voyage.
“MYD are delighted to work in partnership with the Spirit of
Adventure Trust, to give young people opportunities to connect
with their communities, gain confidence and learn new skills,”
says General Manager, Carl Crafar.
As a Ministry we fund more than 110 programmes and services
across New Zealand including the Spirit of Adventure Trust
10-day youth development voyage, says Carl.
We are currently working with our providers of programmes and
services to extend the range, reach and relevance of our
funding. We want providers to offer programmes tailored to
local conditions and needs that reach a wider number of young
people by using good practice methods to assure positive results.
By the end of June 2011, we will have worked with our
providers to double the number of young people on MYD
funded programmes from 2,500 to 5,000 per year.
<< Continued from page 5
activate membersThe Ministry of Youth Development would like to acknowledge the contribution of three young people on our Activate network.
Tai Ahu, Oliver Ibbetson and Sanele Chadwick have all been members of MYD’s Activate network for five years.
They are moving on to new challenges.
We appreciate the valuable advice you provided and your input into the activities of the youth advisory group.
