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......

June 13 - Reflections from the team

+ Michael Smith – team leader / Youth Worker/ Lab Facilitator

To think that we are six months into another year is a little scary. There have been challenges as always such as being asked to move out from the youth space we had finally got running well, however, God has always had a plan and purpose for our work and somehow we find ourselves now based in a youth space (called RYD ‘rec youth development’) better than the last. Another challenge has been getting used to Emma (my wife) doing shift work at Starship, lets just say that’s a work in progress. Living back in Roskill South has been great after moving out for 6 months. We are now living in the attached unit to our new centre RYD, this is both exciting and challenging at the same time. I am also now six months away from graduating with my bachelor in Youth Development. This is going to be such an awesome time- who would of ever though I would get a degree! The development of my role as a team leader continues to be both exciting and challenging. Learning how to empower and sometimes let go of projects is a balancing act. As my role moves more to facilitating and empowering the team, the boys continue to develop projects in our community that are having an amazing effect. Boys Rally is an intermediate aged program they are now running on a Tuesday night that they are running independently while I get the night off. They are empowering our leadership program young people to help as junior leaders. The major challenge ahead is FUNDING. This challenge will never go away but with a step up in commitment to lease a space for our youth centre and increasing John’s hours, tough times are ahead. To start addressing this we have developed our own trust that we can apply for funding from and I am grateful for the new trustee’s who are willingly going to give of their time. I really feel settled in this community now and I am seeing daily signs of God working in the young people and families we engage.

+ John Riki – 2nd year student with Weltec / Lab apprentice

The first half of 2013 has been a challenge since graduating from praxis, I have enrolled on the bachelor of youth development but struggle for motivation so dropped down studying from full time to part time. The degree is something I see myself achieving hopefully in the near future. My youth work practice is so enjoyable at the moment. I am dedicate to my school program and helping with other things like boys rally and sportzlife, and also the new role of managing our new youth space is pushing my abilities in the right direction.

+ Sagele Palaamo – 2nd year student with praxis/ Lab apprentice

The last 6 months have been good we’ve finally got a space in the community that we can base ourselves and together with some of the boys have been able to do. I’ve also been doing study through praxis working towards a diploma in youth work that ill hopefully be able to get at the end of this year. Studying has also been challenging but good being able connect what we are learning to what we are doing in the community of Roskill South and helping me to be more affective and consistent with young people.

+ Cewa Tupou – 1st year student with Praxis/ Lab apprentice

The last six months I have been busy with study and it has been are interesting journey for me at Praxis. Being at praxis has been really good by getting more in-depth faith journey and learning more tools to keep positive relationships going in my youth work practice. Opening up our new space (Rec Youth Development) has gave us better opportunities to connect with young people somewhere comfortable not only to us but them too.  

REC Youth Development Aims

1) Build Community Cohesion:

Develop events, projects and relationships that assist the growth of community cohesion. Achieved through joint ventures with other like-minded local agencies, the empowerment of local leadership and community-led projects.

2) Develop Society Contributing Young People:

Provide wrap around support so that young can are empowered into their destiny and begin to contribute to their context. Through camps to develop their world view, community projects to empower a sense of community ownership and mentoring to provide a consistent supportive relationship that picks up, challenges and celebrates the young persons journey.

3) Experience the Kingdom of God daily:

Create genuine opportunities and experiences of the Kingdom of God in the young persons local setting. Through mentoring relationships, reflection at the Friday BBQ’s, camps and acts of care for others within their community. Luke 24:13-35

Welcome to the REC Youth Development blog

Welcome to the brand new blog of REC Youth Development. The blog aims to keep followers informed fortnightly of the developments, successes and challenges of the youth workers, community of Roskill South and wider.
stay tune....