The Atawhai Charitable Trust Whanau and Youth Hub, a space for rangatahi and whanau to be themselves, was officially opened by the trustees and those connected to the trust on Thursday.
Atawhai Charitable Trust was established in response to calls to support rangatahi who were disengaged from education.
The focus is to assist rangatahi, with their whanau in support, to set and realise goals and to give them a challenge they would not normally get to do.
The vision of Atawhai is for whanau and community to thrive in a safe, inclusive and dynamic Tairawhiti.
Atawhai runs multiple groups and programmes such as Qmmunity Youth Gisborne, Tuakana Teina, Rangatahi Leadership, Kokiri Kai Community Mara (garden), Tairawhiti Mana Wahine and Maia Poroaki.
Qmunnity Youth, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Maori Wardens, New Zealand Defence Force, Police, Gisborne’s Deputy Mayor Josh Wharehinga and Ikaroa-Rawhiti caNdidate Heather Te Au-Skipworth attended the opening.
Daniel Jenner, a senior member of Qmmunity Youth Gisborne said having a facility like this meant he could be who he wanted to be.
“When I’m feeling like society is trying to keep me down I can come here and feel like I can’t be held down,” Daniel said.
Being a part of Qmmunity was like being in a sibling hood and the people in the group had become good friends.
“This space really helped me define who I was in a time I couldn’t, so having these spaces available is very important to me,” he said.
Atawhai trust chair Whiti Timutimu said the day was a special occasion.
“It is the opening of our building, a dream we have had since the trust was established.
“We are here to celebrate with the rangatahi, their whanau and all the volunteers who have committed to the cause over the last few years,” Ms Timutimu said.
Atawhai was set up in 2014 after starting as a youth mentoring programme in 2013 under the mantle of founder the late Dr Apirana Mahuika.
“That work was to enable and ensure rangatahi were supported and kept in education,” she said.
“That has morphed into a range of things we do under the umbrella of the trust.
“The building itself is the chance to have a place whanau can come to be themselves, be supported and for us to allow them to reach their potential.
“I want to acknowledge the volunteers who have given their time from 2014 to now. “Ka nui te mihi.”