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.