Kia ora, my name is Anh-Dao and I'm a Youth and Community worker, Youth House support person & Mates and Dates facilitator.

I first got involved with Challenge 2000 in 2008 when I participated in a youth leadership programme. I pretty quickly realised that Challenge was something special and have stuck round, in a few different capacities, ever since.

I was so excited to return back to the team in 2018 whilst completing my Bachelor in Social Work.

No day is the same here which means new learnings and many different challenges everyday!

I feel extremely fortunate to be part of a team that's committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, working towards social justice and making a positive difference in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Kia ora. My name is Kerry, and I work as the Challenge 2000 Social Worker at Aotea College. My career into social work has been a natural progression.

After working at a local childcare centre, and starting a family of our own, I started looking after children in my home when my children were at kindergarten. I then became the supervisor of the after school care programme at my children’s primary school, while offering my services as a parent help at school during class time. From there, I got my Teacher Aide Certificate, which enabled me to secure a job as a Teacher Aide at a local college.

Funding for a youth worker became available at the college, and the college encouraged me to apply for the position, which I was successful in getting. I then gained my Diploma in Youth Work, and went on to achieve my degree in Youth Development. I found that I loved studying in a field I was passionate about – young people and their world – so I decided to go back into the classroom and extend my knowledge via a Social Work degree.

I am so very pleased to have been accepted into the Challenge 2000 whanau, as they hold the values and principles that I too hold close to my heart – social responsibility, personal dignity and social justice.

Kia Ora everyone, I’m Meli a social worker at Challenge 2000. My pathway to Challenge started in 2016 when I was a a social work student on placement from Germany.

I had the opportunity for three months to get to know an Agency which provides great support, along with a giant heart of love for young people. With those enriched experiences I went back to Germany. In 2017 I finished my study and started work in a community-setting working with refugees, families and young people with serious challenges and many strengths. I’m delighted to be back at Challenge now and to continue my work here. I’m based at Bishop Viard College in Porirua and work with the students, their Whānau and the staff.

My start coincided with an extraordinary time, the shutdown because of Covid-19. But as John Lennon said “life is happening while you’re busy making other plans”. Therefore, I try to organize the best support for the families and their young ones at the moment; dropping off food bags, activity packages or devices the students need for their online classes, organizing emergency accommodation, providing social work support and trying to keep in touch with the rangatahi.

Nga mihi nui

Meli

Talofa lava. My name is Petrina Foaese, My family and I are from the beautiful island of Samoa. I have been at challenge for 2 years and am enjoying every bit of it . Challenge 2000 has many values that my Aiga and I hold close to our hearts.

I am privileged to work for such a giving and loving organisation. I have always wanted to give back to my community and I thank Challenge 2000 for helping me achieve this goal. I am currently working in the Hutt Valley colleges doing youth work with awesome rangatahi under the Youth Worker in secondary schools government support programme.

This is great as it gives me and insight i what is needed out in the community to develop and harness the strengths of young people. It gives me the opportunity to work alongside youth and listen to their beautiful stories. Another programme I am involved in is Mates and Dates in the whole Wellington Region.This programme focuses on young people developing healthy relationships and recognising when relationships are damaging and put the young people in danger.

I am also currently studying a BA in criminology and education at Victoria university. I believe this study is helping me understand more about the work we do and why we love it.

Everyday is different at Challenge2000 and I am truly blessed to be part of this amazing Aiga.