Rangatahi in The West have risen up thanks to an exciting programme made possible by the YMCA.
Raise Up is a pioneering youth development initiative that aims to bolster youth wellbeing and equip them with the skills to transition into adulthood successfully. This programme is special because it’s run by youth for youth, supported by the YMCA’s coordinators.
According to Caitlin Fowler, Fundraiser for the YMCA, the programme was started by young people in Massey in 2002. In those early days, the emphasis was on social activities. However, the programme has evolved and expanded with 12 Raise Up Crews, engaging around 15,000 youth throughout Auckland and other parts of the country. The West is fortunate to have three crews in Massey, Whau and Upper Harbour.
Each crew has a voluntary committee of young people who lead the programme, reflecting the needs and interests of participants. ‘It’s great personal development. They can take part in leadership training to develop their skills and plan and organise the local programme,’ advises Caitlin.
Clearly, Raise Up is meeting a huge need in the community. ‘Confidence is a big thing I’ve got from Raise Up, along with developing social communication,’ says Casey, a crew member from Massey.
Youth Programmes Coordinator Taylah Shannon says each crew has a unique programme of events and activities. ‘Crews are tasked with identifying the needs of young people in their community and responding with events, workshops, activities and initiatives,’ says Taylah.
Popular events and activities in The West include study sessions, hangouts, clothing swaps, games nights, and badminton sessions. Crews have also organised finance workshops offering young people tips on saving and budgeting.
The youth are also keen to make a difference in their local communities. Taylah says several crews have volunteered for beach or park clean-ups and community outreach like the Hobsonville community fair day.
‘The rangatahi lead events and activities. As coordinators, we just help to make it happen,’ reports Taylah.
A successful application to Your West Support Fund means more young Westies can now participate in Raise Up. The funding of $12,700 has provided an extra 60 contact hours for the youth coordinators to support the young people.
It’s also enabled the youth to organise events to reach more rangatahi who are disengaged from school and the community. Their efforts have given young West Aucklanders more opportunities to connect, have fun, and access vital support.
Check out the Raise Up website for more information.
