Workforce Development’s Youth Worker Programmes Tutor, Vivienne Wharehoka, says that her youth worker students have been very enthusiastic and proactive in taking up her challenge to them to get out and support a range of community initiatives.
Vivienne’s Youth Worker level 3 students volunteered their services to Canteen’s annual ‘Bandana Challenge’. The students were enthusiastic about this idea and happily volunteered their time to man various stands around Napier city recently. (picture insert).
During September, the Youth Worker level 4 students collected information from young people (via a survey) for the Napier City Council. This information will be used to review their policy for young people.
Some of the students on the Youth Work level 4 programme currently work and/or volunteer in youth development initiatives, namely Epic Ministries in Central Hawke’s Bay, delivering mentoring programmes and support for drivers licence, benefits and youth justice. In addition, working with CHB District Council alongside youth service providers, government agencies and NGO’s to make connections in the community for positive youth development in the region.
The Youth Worker level 4 students have also worked with the Salvation Army, Napier, in their Sports Adventure Life Training (SALT) programme, providing services that include holistic mentoring and court appointed work.
Cadet Forces is another voluntary uniformed training organisation for young people, aged 13–18 years, with which Workforce Development Youth Worker level 4 students have been involved, as well as the Crippled Children’s Society (CCS) providing mentoring for young people with mild disabilities. A positive outcome of this work for one level 4 student is that they will shortly embark on a one week immersion into the Limited Service Volunteer programme at Burnham Military Camp.
