MRGS APEX 2014 Settling Retreat 21-22 feb Jon Riki

We just had our APEX retreat for the new group of year 9’s, the group was a mix between past Sportzlife boys from Waikowhai Intermediate and from Mount Roskill Intermediate. The retreat is to help the year 9’s we and other youth workers have identified as at risk and in need to provide transitional support into high school, The group follows on to the APEX program which runs for the whole schooling year. Before the program starts there is a settling retreat at the beginning, a overnight stay with school staff and ourselves. The settling camp this year worked but wasn’t overly great, and don’t think that there was good learning or refection but if all the aim was to create belonging within the group and school at least I feel we achieved that. This year was the first time i have run a camp or retreat by myself and  i learnt a lot from the experience. What i have learnt will help next year will benefit my own work and better the retreat for the young people involved. 

MRGS Apex Graduation Camp 2013 - Jon Riki

The apex program has been running since term 1 with a group of year 9 boys from Mount Roskill Grammar school and focuses on the four stages of the Circle Of Courage (Belonging, mastery, independence, generosity) a model based on building resilience within young people.

This year has been filled with memorable experiences and growth for the young people involved and was all wrapped up with a graduation camp at windy ridge camping ground in Warkworth.

There was no actual structure to the camp but to go and reflect on the year to start looking towards the next year. Between the typical duties there was a lot of time for us to spend with the boys and debrief how the year has been. The camp was a success and left the boys wishing it was a bit longer which was something to keep in for mind for the next year 9’s. Although the camp was only overnight it was important to have some closer to the program.

With all the boys moving on to their second year of high school it was great journeying with them and ending the year with a camp. 

praxis graduation 2013

2013 was a proud year for our team with Sagele Palaamo graduating with his Diploma in Community and Youth Studies and Siua Tupou completing his first year.


-top left is siuas family celebrating
-bottom right is all auckland graduates
-top right and bottom left is the leadership program team working hard in the kitchen

leadership wrap up

2013 was a productive year for the Leadership Program. its started with a hiss and a roar at the Molley Green Community day and ended with a great break up at Mission Bay. Mixed in between was a retreat, leadership summit, community projects, the whats normal road show, contribution to the Puketapapa Youth Council and a good solid effort serving the community in many creative ways.
A highlight for me was how committed the boys have been to serving the homeless on a Wednesday Night's outside The Salvation Army Auckland City Corp. Above are two photos from our break up. I am looking forward to pushing on this year with the leadership crew to see what we can learn and achieve.

Michael Smith

Roskill South Raiders Sports Academy 2013

Reflection: Jon Riki - Academy Manager

The Roskill South Raiders team this year was by far the most involvement and support by the community. The number of players at training ranging around 50-60 boys enough for two teams and subs. On game day with a playing squad of 30 plus boys depending on how many we could transport not including managers, coaches and supporters the support from everybody was overwhelming. We still have had the same committee running the team for the past three years with the same amount of core players.

We ended up only having one official team in a comp but we also ran a state of origin comp with a close organization who works with similar young people in the community next to ours. this meant we could play our U17 and U14 teams to great success especially because the games were close to the hood.

 However this year interest was sparked by the idea of a open age team which attracted a lot more boys. There were many groups who played a part in the success of the project including Auckland Council, the competition organisers (Auckland Tongan Sports Association), Mark Roiall from Langi Sports and The Salvation Army and most importantly the Roskill South community.

If you noticed anything around the community after the raiders season has ended all the people involved are alot closer, it has given the chance for the boys in the community to connect through a common interest and build new friendships as well as strengthen existing relationships. The relationships built has not only worked within a certain age group but connected young and old as well as culturally. 

The biggest long term effect that has come from the project would be the connections they are strong now and through other things going on in the community will be maintained. 

This year was a successful season in terms of community and youth development for Roskill South, but as for everything there was some things that could be improved on for the next season of the Raiders. The grounds where the competition was held in Takanini was quite a travel from Roskill South which meant we were not able to fit everybody in our vans but thanks to the financial support and fundraising there was money for gas for the following cars to make numbers.

Peak Journey (blue mountain adventure centre) 16-23 dec 2013

Youth Worker Reflection (Sagele Palaamo).

Late last year I went with 5 of the boys to BMAC and were apart of the PEAK JOURNEY for one week . it was a long and challenging trip with many different activities, that started from national park and went all the way to new Plymouth. The fist day started with a mountain bike ride through the 42 triverse track which didn’t start of to well with one of the boy poping their tyres and then another crashing and bukling his frount tyre which was pretty funny, but then we had to turn around and go back to change the tyre, then had to road bike right round to owhanga where we camped for the night,  when we arrived everyone was tired. Every night we got to choose a leader for the next day who was responsible of waking everyone up and making sure everyone was ready for the day, and were safe during the activites. One of the activities that  I will remember was canoeing, it was hard. In the past most groups had done this last leg of the journey in three days but the boys were determined to finish it in two so we could get home early. on the Saturday we canoed all afternoon right until eight at night. We stopped and set up camp on the side of the river. The next day we got up at about four in the morning just so we could get a head start, and finish. Along the way we got to see a lot of the country and a lot of goats where we stoped sometimes and tried to chase down and catch but were unsuccessful but was good fun. Overall it was a really good experience looking back on it now, and when we got our maps of how far we travelled, it was good to see it on papper, we covered 270km in five days, after going through it, I see why its called the journey.

Robert - Peak Journey Participant:We did canoeing, road biking, mountain biking and rafting. I enjoyed the stuggle of waking up early in the mornings to do more adventures an also doing new obstales. I learned that you can never do things alone and how having people to support is good and not been weak. Also that there are hard things in life that takes focus and determination to succed. I think I now see God in nature too that used to be weird for me.

Amos - Peak Journey Participant: 

Doing Peak Journey at BMAC was a very great experience for me because the hard work you put in was worth it when you get to the finish. We all got skinny from the exercize and now have bigger limits to what we can achieve. This trip has helped me feel confident in my future as part of the ARU development program.

Immersion Trip to Quezon city slum, Manila. Sagele Palaamo

What a good experience, I got to learn a bit about the culture and there lifestyle. Some of my praxis class and I all went on an immersion trip to a slum/squatter area in Quezon City and stayed there for two weeks.  We got split up and stayed with a family; we were walking distance though from each other. I stayed in a house that was pretty small compared to the houses here in New Zealand; it was probably the size of my bedroom. One thing I learnt from this experience was to be happy with I got, because even though they didn’t have much they still were grateful for what they had and for life. I noticed was how close they were with each other as a family and how much love they had for others. I remember when I first arrived there my family took me to a local concert they were running to raise funds to help cover some of the costs for someone who needed it for an operation, this inspired me. During my stay the main thing we had for meals was different type of fish, chicken and rice. In the afternoons because it wasn’t so hot a few of us would meet up at the basketball court and have a game with some of the locals, where they used to call some of us Americano. It was funny because I seemed to look a bit like them, if I went into a shop by myself the shopkeepers would start talking to me in Tagalong, the local language that was funny. A song that reminds me of my trip was “treasure” by Bruno Mars it was on repeat everywhere I went and the “gentleman” song by PSY. I am so grateful for the trip and the people who supported me financially and through prayer. I will always remember my time with my family in Quezon Slum.

 

Doing youth work without being a youth worker

 A recent article written for The Salvation Army by Jon Riki, Youth Worker

For the past three years I have been working with the Roskill South Rec youth team. I was born and have been raised in the community I now serve.

I have seen many youth workers and youth clubs/events come and go in that time with one thing staying the same. Young people are continually growing up with more and more challenges.

What does youth work look like for those that aren’t youth workers? Everybody has some body that looks up to them in some way shape or form; in our roskill south leadership program its focus about leadership development to better our neighborhood contributing back through projects. So what happens when the participants are nearing the end of their time at school or course and they are looking at their possible career options for the future? This youth work thing that they have been apart of is looking appealing? As sad as it sounds not all of us can become youth workers.

The truth is we need everyone to have a youth worker approach to young people in our community but maybe not full time or paid ones. It takes a whole village to raise a young person and in this sense we need every adult in a community to have an active interest in the young people around them. What could it look like for those that still have a interest in the well being of young people in the community whilst still moving on their own journeys. A style off informal youth work without the title is easier then it sounds, it’s a shame that a lot of the positive role models have to be paid as a form of work like youth work to be apart of a young persons journey.

I have been thinking about what it could like; role modeling, mentoring, programs, projects, sports, faith groups and school, all of these things are easy enough to be a part of while still balancing other commitments such as work, why is there a feeling for wanting to do this full time? It is a privilege to have young people stand up and show concern for others and want more for their community but what are we missing when we build them to maybe not become a youth workers but be a leader in their own right in a community that desperately needs them.

October 2013 Holiday Program

2013 Puketapapa Youth Leadership Summit

4 Religious traditions, 22 ethnicities, 12 community organisations all converging on Umu Puia Marae, Maraetai all passionate about uniting Mt Roskill's youth voice.The Puketapapa (Mt Roskill) Youth Leadership Summit is a project that i (michael) have co-ordinated for the past 3 years since its conception. The intention is to bring together aspiring young people from the Mt Roskill area to develop leadership and citizenship for the sake of the next generations of Mt Roskill.

This years theme was ACTION and it came with the bonus of two group who would form during the summit receiving $2,000 grant for a community project developed over the summit. These grants come from the local board youth fund in which we have "Puke up"grants for aspiring youth community projects. To start of the weekend we had Ronji Tanielu share his story and journey from a challenging up bringing to his life now as a registered lawyer and policy analyst for The Salvation Army. The rest of the weekend followed a project scoping template where groups where formed to develop local community projects for young people. This included workshops on leadership, project management, fiancees and marketing.

 Each group presented their project idea and the participants of the weekend then voted for the top two projects that deserved the grants, making this a truly youth led development project. the winers of the grants where:
 1) Kai Time: A cook book with stories to support recipes of different meals that represent cultures or traditions of Mt Roskill.
2) Roskill's Finest: Art gallery events that expose artistically talented Mt Roskill young people.

I have left this Youth Leadership Inspired and with alot of hope with such a strong bunch of young people who will lead our community into the future.

check out this link for short film developed of what went down on the weekend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B4KaEEeeqE

More Photos and info to come

Strengthening Youth Development Practice in MT Roskill

On the 4th and 5th of September C-DUB our local youth worker network which i (Michael Smith) am a driving committee member of, ran RAP training for a range of youth workers from MT Roskill. RAP stands for response ability pathways and uses a model of youth development called the Circle of Courage and focuses on developing resiliency in young people. The training follows a program developed by Larry Bredtro and uses a mix of short films and interactive role plays. Participants are given scenarios to act and practice how to respond to young people in adverse situations or backgrounds.
Mark Barnard from Praxis NZ facilitated the two day course with our 30 attendees. The training was highly spoken about by all the participants and feel they have all left with a greater understanding of youth development and how to build resiliency in young people.
I am very proud of what C-DUB has been able achieve by running this event and focussed on the need to always be up skilling and training of our local youth workers to benefit our community.
This training was only possible due to the Puketapapa Local Board (Auckland Council) and The Department of Internal Affairs Youth Worker Training Grant.

Servanthood

 Recently our leadership program have been discussing the concept "what is NORMAL?" this was brought on by experience that a couple of the boys had when they spent a weekend with predominately other ethnic groups. To discover what is "normal" the boys came up with a plan to engage different cultures and experience to gain a better understanding of other peoples norms. So over the last 6 weeks we have gone to the Auckland Art Gallery, War Memorial Museum and serve the homeless at the Salvation Army shelter, all to get a better picture of the different worlds that people live in and call normal.

I (michael smith) have been really impressed with the commitment of our leadership boys to exploring this concept and how it can shape them. The reality of living in urban Auckland is we are surrounded by such diversity, you can either chose to ignore it or explore and through this learn so much about your own culture and identity. I look forward to seeing how this story continues to emerge, watch this space.

MRGS APEX Year 9 boys program

 The Apex program has been designed to journey the first year of high school with 18 year 9 boys who have just started at Mount Roskill Grammar School. The program is held in school for a period on Friday mornings and is run for the whole year. I have planned the program around the Circle of Courage; a model developed by Larry Brendtro for youth development aimed at building resiliency in young people. The model has 4 stages, belonging, mastery, independence and generosity. Each term will cover a stage of the circle of courage building resiliency within the boys and the ability to solve problems. The goal for us is to journey through the school year with the boys and develop positive outcomes. Outcomes such as attendance, behavior, academic progress and contribution to the school. With some good progress through term two we aim to build on the good group dynamics that exist even though running the program on the last day of the term created some chaos. The group smoothed themselves out over the holidays with the holiday trip to the movies. This was really about having fun and no intentional development as I believe in the importance of the relationship side of the program. It was a good experience for the boys and you could see how well they are gelling together. Since returning after the holidays we have focused on independence and the ability to problem solve. As a group and as individuals it is encouraging to see the growth in the boys. I am looking forward to seeing them complete their first year of high school in preparation for the years to come. 
Jon Riki - Youth Worker

 

The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Youth Conference - Jon Riki

In June this year I co-facilitated The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Youth Conference for young people in Auckland held at The Auckland Council Youth Centre RYZ in Wesley. Over 300 young people where in attendance representing schools and community groups. I had the privilege of setting the tone for the day by running icebreaker activities for all the young people; this was a challenge with the biggest group activities I have ever had to run but I was proud of my effort. The Aim of the conference was to strengthen the Pacific voice across Auckland and connect the young people to their representative who are part of The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs. This was achieved through guest speakers and break out sessions to keep the young people engaged and participating. All up it was a good experience and I definitely feel that I have improved in larger group facilitation. I also believe the young people who attended left inspired and empower about their identity as a Pacific young person. Jon Riki – Youth Worker

Coaching MRGS U15A Rugby

This year Michael and I (Sagele Palaamo) have been coaching the Mount Roskill Grammar under 15 A grade rugby team, every Tuesday and Thursday after school and then games on Saturday. Coaching has been good experience  working with the U15 boys. We had a good preseason but then I think the boys got a shock when the season started in A grade (contestably the highest quality U15 grade in the world) but I think the boys have done well being their first time in A grade rugby. It is also the first time Mount Roskill Grammar School have had a team in a rugby A Grade in 10 years. I have learnt a lot as the season has gone on. Looking back from the beginning of the season to where they are now, the main core group of boys have really grown, and I can see that they are learning and willing to take on board what we are coaching them. Sagele Palaamo – Student Youth Worker

Josh Tupou Youth Work Studies (Praxis)

This Year I have started the Praxis Diploma in Community and Youth Studies. The course is based around 5 week and a half block courses each year for two years.  We also do weekly regional cluster groups. Praxis has been an awesome journey for me just being blessed with people that believe in young people. The Journey has really tested me through the assessments I have to complete becaue I am not that acedemic. There is a strong faith element to the study and I am also just starting my journey with God. I have come to realize that he plays a big part in my life and that he can achieve wonders through the work we do in our communities. Praxis has also given me the chance to do a lot of mentoring of young people, Activity Based Learning, group management and a lot more.  I am enjoying the study experience with Praxis because of its family enviroment and commitment to good youth workers over a certificate. Josh Tupou - Student Youth Worker

Winter Peak 2013

Winter peak 2013 (15^th-21^st July) was memorable experience for me and the group of six boys. Winter Peak is a adventure week based out of Blue Mountain Adventure Centre on the edge of Mt Ruapehu. Getting to do things extreme from our world in Auckland was exciting and at the same time terrifying. It was awesome to see the boys step up to the plate and give all the activities 100% even though they were so nervous about sleeping in the snow caves we built on the mountain. Each of the activities pushed the boys differently for some the white water rafting or trying to fit through a small gap in underground caving others the mountain biking or high  ropes. Winter peak has a price to it but we know the investment that the experinece has. We have seen the experience be a strong stake in the sand for many of the young people we have taken in the past. This years groups were very tight and its been great to see how they have continued to support each other since returning from the trip. I am very proud of the boys that came and hope that the experience is something that they will never forget and always challenge their approach to life. 

Josh Tupou - Student Youth Worker

Roskill South Youth Leadership Group Retreat 14th - 16th June

On the 14th-16th of June the Roskill South Youth Leadership Group held our annual retreat. This year  the retreat was held at Huia Lodge set in the idilic Waikatere Rangers. The Weekend involved a mix of leadership development and social activities. On Saturday morning we had Jono Bell with us as a guest facilitator who helped us process the strengths and challenges of our group and its connection to our community. This lead to a river crossing exercise aimed at developing the unity and direction of the group. After a Saturday night of attempting to catch our dinner fishing at a local wharf we finished our camp with one last morning session. The aim to be honest with each other about our individual challenges and how we can help each other. The overall reflection of this retreat was positive and leaders have returned to the normal grind of life more resilient to the challenges they face and are working hard to empower other young people in their community through projects like Boys Rally.

R.Y.D. The Youth Centre

 RYD (REC Youth Development) is the name of our new youth centre based in heart of Roskill South community. We took lease of the space in February and opened officially in April. The boys have done an amazing job at painting, decorating and setting up this space, that they can call their own. RYD has given us a great connection into the business world of Mt Roskill. Relationships with adults/parents have strengthen dramatically with the identification of who we are and where we are from. This justify's our decision to persist with a local space and the importance of putting down strong roots in our community.

John Riki has become the Centre Manager and has between 20 - 50 young people through a day engaging in arts projects, the gym and general hang out. The long term funding of this space is in question and will need a commitment from the team to be innovative with this. We also are looking for sponsors who believe in the importance and potential of this venture. If you have any advice or ideas that could contribute to this ongoing challenge we would love to hear from you.

Molley Green Community Day 23rd March 2013

 The fifth year we partnered in the facilitation of our community day in our local park Molley Green Reserve. Held on Neighborhood Day, our community day aims to celebrate all things Roskill South; this year was one of the best. The long dry summer held off for one last weekend to provide a beautiful day with 5 hours of entertainment, over 30 stalls and a few thousands attendees. The performance had a strong local feel this year with over 75% of acts living within walking distance of the park. This year we attempted a carnival style with all stalls having an activity that attendees could engage with. This very local event has caught the eye of many other communities who dream of the same idea. This extended to the honorable Mayor Len Brown asking to, and attending. Momentum from this event always seems to inspire more people in our community to engage each other, often the catalyst for so many good developments; re-naturalisation of our stream, raiders rugby league, murals and coffee groups.
until next year......