Gap Year 2015

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The Challenge 2000Marist Gap Year has begun!

This year we have nine wonderful young people who have said ‘YES’ to this Gap Year journey and experience.  This diverse group of young people come from around New Zealand – Nelson to Otaki and even as far as Mexico.
The Gap year participants have been busy in their first few weeks. There has been a mixture of introduction, induction, fun, team building, familiarisation and educational modules on code of conduct, boundaries. As well as just getting to know the who, what, when, why and how.
Four weeks into the year the gap participants are now very much apart of the day to day life of Challenge 2000. They are playing a role in providing support and service to Challenge 2000 , our whanau and wider community.
Gap students have already:
– Helped with Catholic Social Service street day appeal
– Run breakfast clubs in schools
– Been involved in the planning and running of a Children’s Day event
– Planned and been involved in a Challenge 2000 youth mass
– Played sport with young people
– Supported and served in the community through gardening, lawn mowing, house cleaning, and much more!
– Acted in a drama
– Begun their Youth Work Certificates
– Mentored and tutored in Primary Schools and High Schools
– Made posters and painted
– Started placements with various social services and organisations in Wellington
If you would like to know more about how to support the Gap programme or sponsor a participant, then contact Kitty McKinley on (04) 477 6827

Up coming youth ministry events…

Please put into your calendar:

March 1st – Children’s Day event; ‘Valuing our treasure’.

March 13th – A Fish and Chip night with Cardinal John for young adults aged 18-30. He will be sharing his experiences of his recent visit to Rome.

March 20-22nd – Wondering about priesthood as a way to serve and make a difference here in Aotearoa or overseas. Join this weekend retreat. Organised in partnership with the Society of Mary -the Marists.

March 23rd – Challenge 2000 University students and Workers catch up – Southern Cross, Abel Smith Street.

March 27-28th– 24 hour Caritas Challenge, sleep over at Dr Taylor Terrace Johnsonville. Help raise awareness and money for the Philippines.

April 2nd – Holy Thursday Mass at Ss Peter and Paul Johnsonville. The call to Radical Service and gratitude, do as I do.

April Holidays Retreat sponsored by the Knight of the Southern Cross and leadership training for the sacramental programme.

April 25-26th ANZAC Dramas and event Participation.

May 3rd – Sacramental Programme begins for 13-18 year olds.

Arts and Craft TableANZAC 5 (2)

To send for caritas 5

Summer Holiday Programmes 2015

Over five days, Challenge 2000 staff, volunteers and young people explored various parts of Wellington while enjoying the lovely weather and activities we planned for holiday programmes. Our goal was to not only have fun but connect young people in to what the greater Wellington region has to offer.

Day one saw everyone at ASB Sports Centre having fun competing in netball and floorball in the morning. After a nice lunch up by Mt Victoria lookout, we returned to try our hand at indoor soccer and basketball.

 

Sports 2

Sports 3

 

Day two we all journeyed around to Days Bay in Eastbourne, quite a few of our young people had never been before, and when there we separated into two groups. One group went to The Days Bay Boat Shed where they donned a  life jacket and headed out onto the water in a kayak with one of the instructors and Challenge 2000 staff. The other group went across the road to the park where we played different games like touch or volleyball. After lunch the groups changed over and those who had been kayaking in the morning had the option of continuing to swim with supervision if they wished. It was a great day and one of the young people’s favourites over the holiday programmes.

 

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Day three we went along to the Aquatic Centre at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua and then played sports in Johnsonville. Our young people got to play games and splash about in the pool before we went back to Challenge 2000 for lunch and then sports.

Battle hill

Day Four we all piled into vans and cars and made our way to Battle Hill in Pauatahanui. We were put into five groups and in the morning took turns at each of the five activities; stretcher making, tent erecting and dismantling, camp story creating, observation walk and shelter building. After a yummy BBQ lunch, the groups shared their camp stories and then all went for a walk up Battle Hill to end the day on a high!

 

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Group Photo - Battle Hill

 

Day five – our last day – was our Wellington City Scavenger Hunt. The teams made their way to Parliament to start, then the railway station and then to different destinations along the Queen’s Wharf waterfront, with the final destination at Waitangi Park. Stops included a rock climbing task at Fergs Kayaks, as well as a kayaking task around the lagoon. The young people had fun searching for answers to clues and doing various activities over the day. The weather was spectacular and a really good way to end our Holiday Activity Days in Wellington.

Waterfront Lunch moment

We would like to thank all the young people, our volunteers, sponsors and supports for such a great Summer Holiday Programme! Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming holiday programmes throughout the year.

Families sponsoring families:

A highlight for us this year has been the efforts of a few young mums and dads who decided to reach out and provide money, gift vouchers and fresh food for other young families in need. Their unsort generosity was awesome – a real example of the Christmas Spirit. You know who you are, thank you very much.

Merry Christmas and All the Best for 2015

Challenge 2000 young people, board, staff, families and volunteers thank you for supporting us the Spirit of Christmas throughout this year.

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We are grateful for your generosity, support, understanding and commitment to helping bring about a loving more peaceful, equitable, just country. Together our presence has made a difference, lives have been transformed, families made stronger, gifts shared, young people have dreamed and achieved a better future.

A time of excitement and fun, energy and trust.

A time of excitement and fun, energy and trust.

Christmas Parade

On the 6th of December, staff, young people and volunteers arrived in Johnsonville all ready to spread the Christmas spirit. Baskets were filled with lollies, costumes were selected and everyone found their position on the float.

As we joined the parade and headed down the streets, they were lined with children and families who were clapping and cheering with excitement. It truly was a special day for all involved and an experience to remember. A special thank you to all the young people who showed up the day before to help paint, build the float and make decorations and didn’t leave until the job was done.

Christmas Parade

Christmas Parade Prep

 

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Christmas Wrapping at Johnsonville Mall

Every year Challenge 2000 has a fundraiser at Johnsonville Shopping Centre. The mall make a generous donation to us to wrap presents bought in the mall. This helps us employ people over the summer, by special gifts for individuals and families and helps us get through the summer.

 

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Wrapping

Holiday Programmes 2015

January we will be having holiday programmes for the youth. These days will be filled with fun, learning, teamwork, adventures, friendship and new experiences. If you are interested in

  • A sports day at ASB on 9th of January.
  • Waka Ama on the 14th of January.
  • Swimming on the 16th of January.
  • A team Scavenger Hunt in Wellington City on the 21st of January.
  • Orienteering at a Regional Part on the 32rd of January.

Numbers are limited! For further information please contact Ben after the 5th of January on 4770045 or benjansen@challenge2000.org.nz.

Leadership Training

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