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

Each year, Gap Year programme participants go on placement outside Wellington for 3-4 weeks. Last month, Aroha and Tim went to Outward Bound. Aroha describes the experience as follows: 

Thanks to the amazing sponsors who gave me the opportunity to attend Outward Bound. We participated in many activities, including sailing, high ropes, kayaking, co-steering, rock climbing, solo (having to survive in the bush by yourself for three days) and service. Outward Bound gives you the opportunity to look into your future and push yourself towards your dreams, as well working to achieve your small goals. It was a completely new experience which gave me a new perspective on Aotearoa and helped me be more definite about life decisions. In a way, being at Outward Bound has changed my life. – Aroha

One the impacts COVID-19 has had on young people is making the challenge of education even more challenging! Whilst the majority of students have transitioned well back into the school routine, for some it has been harder. As we know, in order to be successful, students need to attend school consistently. Supporting students to remain engaged has been identified as a high priority.

In response to this need, Challenge 2000 has been able to provide one of its partner schools, Taita College, with an experienced educator. Mat Anderson (Ngāti Maniapoto) has been a teacher and senior leader for many years.

Mat is working with a group of students lying beneath the 10 numeracy credit threshold, giving them the skills and confidence to tackle maths assessments that contribute to the credits required to get NCEA. Students have responded well to “Matua”, as they call him, and are enjoying working alongside him and achieving.

Although a different role to what he’s had in the past, Mat is enjoying the chance to work with smaller groups of students in a more focussed way. Some students have even put their hands up to do additional assessments after achieving the mandatory 10 credits. “It’s heartening to see what these young ones are capable of when they believe in themselves.”

Thanks, Mat, for the difference you’re making in the lives of these students.      

Thank you to all our social workers, social work students and youth and community workers on the work they do to support personal, familial and community transformation in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Thank you for the love you show, the skills, knowledge and commitment that you share and the energy and passion that you put into your mahi.

Thank you for the personal sacrifices you make for others, the burdens that you bear and the way that you all show up time and time again to support, heal, redirect, distract, develop and grow belief and hope in others.

Challenge 2000 and our extended whānau are grateful and so proud of the huge contribution you all make to bring about the dream and reality of social justice, social responsibility and personal dignity for all people in our Island nation.

PLEASE show gratitude for our staff and whanau today.

Spread the love! Spread the Justice. Spread the Hope.

Aroha mai – Aroha atu!

Congratulations to Ragne and all those involved for their aroha and hard work in responding to such a crucial need.

Click the link below to read more!
https://www.lifekeepers.nz/awards/2020

A sobering read about the challenges many face in these difficult times. Thanks to our very own Kitty McKinley for contributing to this report on Challenge 2000’s behalf. Click here to read the stuff article about the report…

Or read the Johnsonville State of our Community report below…

Challenge 2000 has a well-established Gap Year and Intern programme that caters for up to eight young people.

Since 2007 the Society of Mary and Challenge 2000 have offered a full time gap year programme based in Wellington. Each year, eight young people accept the challenge to say “yes” and spend a year at Challenge 2000 developing, growing and serving others in our community.

It provides an opportunity for recent secondary school and/or university graduates to:

• Grow personally and professionally
• Attain a range of life skills
• Get a wider experience of Aotearoa-New Zealand, its peoples and cultures
• Gain a qualification in Youth Work
• Explore and prepare for future careers

If you are under 20 years of age and want more life experience, an opportunity to serve and to be part of a positive active community, then contact us and apply for our Gap Year!
Each year, there are ONLY 8 PLACES AVAILABLE for gap students and interns.

Applications for next year’s programme are now open!
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE AND APPLY!

Click the link above, or contact us at info@challenge2000.org.nz for more information

It has been our privilege (and hopefully theirs!) to be the Hurricanes chosen Community Partner last year and this.

At their next home game on 8^th August we will be collecting donations towards our work. If you are at the game and see us, please come and see us and drop something in the bucket.

Go the ‘Canes!