Gap Year Graduation!

On Sunday 6th December, Challenge 2000 celebrated its Gap Year Graduation.

The Marist-Challenge 2000 Gap Year is a programme of intensive personal and professional development. Each year, it enables up to eight young people the chance to grow in self-knowledge, get a broader experience of life, study, and prepare for their future careers.

The 2020 Gap Year was – like just about everything else on the planet! – impacted by COVID-19. During lock-down, the programme had to become an on-line experience. However, the group carried on and has now crossed the finish line.

During their graduation speeches, the Gappies thanked those who had supported them throughout the programme: Challenge 2000 staff and volunteers, the Society of Mary, their families, and those they met on work and community placements.

Challenge 2000, in turn, thanks this year’s Gappies for their contribution to our mission. We wish you well as you take another step into your bright futures!

School Holiday Activity Day

During the recent school holidays, 18 students from Taita, Naenae, Porirua, and Aotea College took part in a holiday programme with their respective Challenge 2000 school Social/Youth workers.

The day started with a visit to Stockdale Farm in Pauatahanui, hosted by Heather Kauri and her whanau.  At the farm, the students were able to come up close and personal with sheep, donkeys, miniature horses, ducks, chickens, peacocks, pigs and a baby possum.

All of the animals residing at Stockdale are “rescue” animals, so they all have their own story, like the orphaned baby possum Pete that was found by the roadside one dark night, and Angelica the lamb who lost one of her legs as a result of a scuffle with a horse.

After a tour of the farm and its inhabitants, the students were split into teams for a miniature horse-led relay, with the added – and messy – bonus of trying to find a sweet in a plate full of icing sugar without using hands at the end.  (Hint – do not laugh when trying to find the sweet!)

After a leisurely lunch in the sun, the group made their way to the Monterey Cinema in Upper Hutt to watch “Four Kids and It”, a tale of caution around being careful what you wish for.  Obligatory movie viewing popcorn and ice-cream was included.

The day ended in the late afternoon, with several participants falling asleep on the ride home and all very thankful for the experience.

Thank you to the Challenge 2000 staff, to Stockdale Farm and the Nikau Foundation, without whom this day of connection, learning and fun would not have been possible.

Street Day Appeal 2020 | NOW LIVE!

Just a reminder, out online Street Day Appeal is now live!

We areasking those who can, to donate in support of our work on our givealittle fundraising page, which is now open and will be receiving donations until Friday:

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/challenge2000-streetdayappeal2020

We appreciate that so many are under pressure during these difficult and uncertain times and the young people and families we serve still need help.

If you’re able to, please visit our givealittle page to make a donation towards this work of love. Your generosity and kindness is much appreciated!

A big “thanks!” to those of you who support this and so much other good work.

With Real Thanks!

From your Challenge 2000 Whānau

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/challenge2000-streetdayappeal2020

Street Day Appeal 2020

Here at Challenge 2000, we regard it as a privilege and a blessing to work with young people and families.

It’s a joy to see others discover and develop their gifts and their goodness. For example, the young person regarded as a ‘dangerous problem’ who generously helps us mow an elderly person’s lawns. Or ‘the truant’ who helps us prepare a food parcel for a family whose parents have lost their jobs. Or the school prefect who gives of her time to help run a holiday programme.

A big “thanks!” to those of you who support this and so much other good work.

If you’re able to, please visit our givealittle page for our virtual Street Day Appeal this Thursday 26th November. Your generosity and kindness is much appreciated!

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/challenge2000-streetdayappeal2020

Street Day Appeal 2020

Don’t forget!

Next Thursday 26th November is Challenge 2000’s virtual (on-line) Street Day Appeal. You will be able to donate through the usual channels, but also on our new givealittle fundraising page:

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/challenge2000-streetdayappeal2020

Anything you can spare will help us continue to support young people and their families over the coming Christmas-New Year period and into 2021.

We have some amazing friends and benefactors, but could always do with more support. Please watch this space!

Street Day Appeal 2020

Calling all friends, benefactors, and people of good will!

This year’s Challenge 2000 Street Day appeal is a virtual (on-line) event. On Thursday 26th November, we’ll be asking those who can to donate in support of our work on our givealittle fundraising page:

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/challenge2000-streetdayappeal2020

As we all know, 2020 has been a tough year. During the COVID-19 lockdown, we were deemed an essential service and remained on the frontline, serving young people and their families. We’re extremely grateful for those who supported us during this time, both practically and financially.

We appreciate that so many are under pressure during these difficult and uncertain times and the young people and families we serve still need help. If you’re able to make a donation towards this work of love, please put a few dollars aside ahead of our (virtual) Street Day Appeal on Thursday 26th November! More details to follow…

Kaikoura Placement

Charlotte

Once it was confirmed that my placement was in Kaikoura, I was actually quite excited to say the very least. I was going somewhere that had an environment I was used to and that was close to home, as I’m from Christchurch. Some of the things I experienced there varied each day as everyday was never the same, I went from shredding old files and learning the history of the local Marae to helping with a small health and fitness program that was held at Hapuku school, and attending a few small events within the community. My overall experience whilst spending my time there was very eye opening as I was able to learn more about myself and I had many conversations with the people I worked alongside with, that was able to help me get an idea of what I want to do next year. I learned how to be more sociable and how to interact with more people, which was a huge challenge for an introvert like me. I could definitely say now that my time there was very memorable and I was able to make connections with people that I feel will be lifelong friends.

Cassidy

My placement in Kaikoura went really well, I was pretty nervous for placement due to being outside of home, outside of wellington on my own for three weeks, but the people I was with made me feel like Kaikoura felt like a home away from home. I stepped out of my comfort zone in the first week, helped run a programme at a primary to intermediate school, learnt a lot about the students there and had a good time playing alongside them. Got to see a lot of Kaikoura and some of the South Island. I am very grateful for this experience because it has been such an eye opener for me and has given me ideas of a possible future.

Jerusalem Placements

Hannah

Kia Ora! 

My name is Hannah Aunoa and I’m doing the Gap year programme with Challenge 2000. I have just completed my gap year placement which was located in Hiruharama, Whanganui. Even now I still feel very privileged that I had the opportunity to spend 3 weeks in the Awa. We had the honour of meeting and getting to know the families there as well as learning many different things from everyone, for example, bee feeding. This was my first experience with being that close to that many bees’. It was very nerve racking at first since I didn’t know whether I had an allergy or not, but, once I got into the rhythm of things it was really enjoyable. I will never forget my time there and the many things they have taught me in that beautiful place. 

Tyrese

My placement was based in Jerusalem, a small village an hour away from the nearest town Wanganui. I really enjoyed my time up there, what really surprised me was how lay back it was up there. Me thinking about a farm and how much work they had for us no, it was really nice although there was work it was capable for Hannah and me to do. A highlight that really stuck out was the hunting I did with the lads. It was something different but I was always keen to give anything a go and experience as much as I could so I could go back full of stories to tell friends and family. Although the time up there was long every night I texted back to my family how my day was which was calming because I hadn’t been away from home like before and was quite home sick but got there in the end which was great. If I had to take one thing I felt in my placement would be the family feeling I got from the locals and how well they treated us.

Staff Training

On 7th & 8th October, Challenge 2000 staff gathered for a two-day workshop. Both days started with reflection time, sharing of recent experiences and a chance to reconnect with one another. The rest of the Wednesday was then spent working through the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator as a chance for staff to understand themselves and one another a little better.

On Thursday, the focus was on supporting behavior and responding to challenging situations, with input and discussion around the impact of adverse childhood experiences on development of the brain.

Comments from staff about these two days included:

I absolutely loved learning about what myself and others personalities in the Myers Briggs! It has been extremely helpful in learning about how different people approach tasks and how they come up with ideas. I learnt a lot about myself, including what my slightly ‘weaker’ areas are and what skills I should be capitalizing more on.

The work on challenging behaviours was really helpful. It made me stop and think again about the trauma some young people experience and what it does to them. Also, made me grateful for the combined wisdom and experience of our staff who work so lovingly to support young people who are hurting.

I have always enjoyed staff training as it is a great opportunity to spend quality time with the whole Challenge whanau. It was great checking in with each other, especially as there are a lot of people that I had not seen for a while!

Gap Year Placement

Xycacia recently returned from her Gap Year placement in Dunedin. This is what she had to say:

I didn’t really know what to expect when I found out the location of my placement. In fact, I was hoping for a completely different place, especially once I found out that I’d be going alone. Yet being aware of these challenges already, I was open to face them with nothing but an open mind and a strong attitude. Packing my bag was the first challenge. That’s the moment it hits you that you’re about to be separated from a place you’ve known your whole life, filled with friends, family etc. Being surrounded by new people. That was the second challenge. The past three weeks have been nothing but challenges, prepping me for the future and helping me self-improve.

I went from working a register at St Vincent de Paul’s, to participating in a cook-up for Vinnie’s, to helping out at homework club at St Mercy Hospital, to working with a school, to leading a youth group. All of which included social interaction and, being a shy introvert (to say the least!) made it difficult. However, going to Dunedin was without a doubt one of the best things to happen. I learnt that it is okay to trust people. I learnt so much about the history of Dunedin and the Scottish relations and, in a way, I felt my relationship with God became stronger than it ever was. We toured around and got to see some pretty amazing sites, like the Robbie Burns statue (Scottish poet) and seeing the steepest street in the world (Baldwin Street). We went to the peninsula and saw some seals, and we went around Otago University and learnt more about history. Dunedin has shown me parts of myself that sometimes I find hard to face, but the end effect left me with a better and improved self with some pretty great friends too.
– Xycacia