There are many ways of connecting with our youth – but what better way to engage with our rangatahi than by having youth directly do this themselves.
The Wayfynders group is doing just that. Setup in 2021, Wayfynders is an NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) addressing social challenges impacting education and wellbeing in the Tāmaki area.
The group received funding from the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board, and recently carried out the Youth4Sure Fund, a participatory grantmaking project, in which a youth panel of 10 Wayfynders were responsible for designing a funding model, criteria and marketing for youth in the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki area to apply.
They were then in charge of allocating these funds to the community.
This resulted in a number of youth connections, such as free workshops, podcast programmes, internships, sports activities, and more.
Gloria Tu’itupou says it was a great way to engage youth with outcomes that make a difference.
"The Youth4Sure project empowered our rangatahi as active community leaders. They weren't just contributing to local decision-making, they were driving it. Sometimes, youth-targeted projects ask for rangatahi input but at the end, we find ourselves asking where did that actually go? Youth4Sure felt different in that our youth implemented an initiative that had visible outcomes.
“When they're in their community and see a Youth4Sure-funded workshop or programme making a positive impact, big or small, on their peers, friends and whānau, they can proudly say I was part of that.
Local Board chair Maria Meredith says it’s fantastic to provide funding to the group that’s making a real difference in the community.
“Our youth like to engage with like-minded peers of a similar age and background, and that’s one of the amazing benefits of Wayfynders, as they understand the needs and desires of our youth.”
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