Three Challenge 2000 Youth Workers provided a leadership programme for Year 13 students. Together the young leaders explored the principles, challenges and rewards of leadership and set goals for themselves and the College for 2016. Everyone enjoyed the day – St Oran’s is all go for 2016.
Feedback from the students included:
“I enjoyed the communication games and the meditation because it resonated with me the most and reminded me of key leadership skills! I realised the true importance of my role as a leader in both the school community and the wider community.”
“Being able to learn what it means to be a leader and how to go about being a leader”
“I enjoyed the casual atmosphere that was created, it made it easier to listen and to take the information in.”
To our new brothers and sisters from Syria. We look forward to receiving the many gifts, strengths and life experiences you bring to us – together we will all be so much better off – an alive, inclusive, diverse, generous, welcoming city. Absolutely positively Wellington.
Over the past weeks, many Challenge 2000 staff, volunteers and young leaders have been collecting items to prepare for the arrival of new whanau in our city. Thanks to those who gave money, lifted and shifted, colour matched, purchased and enjoyed preparing homes.
On Friday night, 25 young people gathered along with Challenge 2000 staff and volunteers for our first sports night of the year.
The gym was full of energy as we played games, got to know each other and stepped out of our comfort zones!
All the young people had an awesome time with the opportunity to share in food at the end. We are looking forward to working with these young people throughout the year.
If you live in the Wairarapa and are between Year 7 and Year 13, our next sports night will take place on Friday 26th February 2016 from 5pm-7pm at Chanel College gym. Contact Nicole on 021 655 697 for more information.
Over the summer school holidays, Challenge 2000 hosted an array of holiday programmes for the young people around Wellington, Porirua and the Hutt Valley. No two days were the same! New experiences were had and activities included sport days, swimming days at different beaches around Wellington and the Hutt Valley, swimming pools and mountain biking through the Wainuiomata hills.
The young people thoroughly enjoyed their time at the different programmes, with excitement levels high all the time! A great favourite was the mountain biking – the young people commented on how challenging it was at times but were so proud and grinning from ear to ear at the finish. Swimming is always great fun – there was a “bombing” competition from the diving board had at a local pool. It was great to see the energy and interest in the young people for this.
Challenge 2000 realise that it is important to provide these programmes for the young people. These programmes provide fun, laughter, new experiences and form new lasting friendships!
We wish to thank all those who sponsor/donate/fund these holiday programmes. Your contribution is much appreciated!
Watch this space for more fun holiday programmes in 2016!!
The Whanganui Awa, and more specifically Hiruharama/Jerusalem, has long been a source of retreat and inspiration for the Challenge 2000 Youth Ministry team. In January, a team of 18 took four days to gather together to reflect on Youth Ministry and plan for the year ahead. 8 College students, 5 young adult volunteers and staff reflected on what it means to be a youth ministry team for 2016.
Hiruharama, with its rich history of Catholic ministry, was a great venue to pause at the beginning of the year and reconnect with our vision and purpose and get to know each other better. The team took the time to revisit why youth ministry matters, how each of us can contribute to making a difference and what we individually can contribute to the lives of those around us.
It was also an opportunity to reconnect with the whanau up the river holding an activity day for many of the young people who live in Hiruharama and the surrounding communities. It is always a special time playing games, sharing laughs and checking in with the hopes for the year ahead.
The College students took real leadership of the day and leant lots about running activity days. Many friendships were formed and it was difficult to leave!
Challenge 2000 is very lucky to have a longstanding connection with the families living in the area and also at the school in Ranana. Heath Hutton supported a school trip to the Gold Coast last year, so it was great to be able to reminisce about all the fun had on that trip.
Just as Suzanne Aubert did so many years ago, the Challenge 2000 team travelled back to Wellington with a sense of mission and purpose for 2016. Dreams were shared and plans hatched!
If you know of any young people who are in Year 12 or 13 who would be keen to be involved in youth ministry, please get in touch with Nicole Simson on 04 477 0045.
