Launched in 2024, the Your West Innovation Fund supports groundbreaking initiatives with high community impact. And when it comes to innovation and impact, the exciting project led by the fantastic team at Te Hononga Akoranga COMET ticks all the boxes. This charitable trust promotes educational outcomes, especially among Māori and Pasifika students.
Funding of $51,412 from the first round of the Your West Innovation Fund is being used to develop a pioneering pilot project that hopefully can be expanded across The West. ‘We support Māori and Pasifika rangatahi to explore issues critical to their communities and research how they can be addressed,’ explains Chief Executive Katheren Leitner.
The project has two phases. The first sees the COMET team work with young people in several schools out West, including Kelston, Rangeview and Glen Eden Intermediates. The students explore the issues impacting their local communities through a creative writing process. Katheren says that the writing workshops help young people to express themselves and highlight the things that matter most to them.
The young people’s work is published in a book, and Te Hononga Akoranga COMET hosts a special launch event, inviting family, friends, teachers, and local officials. The event is also videoed, providing a record of students’ viewpoints. The rangatahi have tackled various critical issues, including why qualifications are essential, the value of playing sports and the problem of food wastage. Their writing provides valuable insights into the minds and concerns of today’s youngsters.
The project has now moved into an exciting second phase. The students are partnered with professionals in science, technology, engineering, and maths, including researchers, engineers, and educators. Together, they work to find solutions to the problems identified.
‘A number of our students have a shared concern, and that is food, from poverty and waste to fast food,’ advises Katheren. She says that Rangeview and Kelston Intermediates have partnered with Fair Food to take rangatahi on an incredible learning journey that will help them answer their research enquiry question: How can we increase kai sovereignty in our communities, giving students and families greater autonomy and access to healthy, affordable food?
Another common concern among students is that participating in sports is critical, but can be expensive. Taking the outdoor equipment at Parrs Park as their inspiration, Glen Eden Intermediate students are working with Auckland Council’s Parks and Facilities Team, AUT urban health researchers, and industry engineers to explore creating robust gym equipment that is affordable and easily accessible 24/7 for the community. ‘Both projects are powerful illustrations of collaboration between schools, charities, industry and community,’ says Katheren.
We can’t wait to hear about the innovative solutions these enthusiastic and talented students will come up with. Check out Te Hononga Akoranga COMET’s website for all the latest news and updates.
