Mending the broken kids

Hamilton woman Caroline Sampson knows all about broken kids.

As Waikato project manager in Maori youth mentoring she regularly meets children whose tough childhood and mainstream education failure have left their self-esteem and ability to trust shot.

Ms Sampson is one of 30 team leaders from throughout the country who have gathered in Hopuhopu, near Ngaruawahia, to plead for greater Government funding, and to hammer out strategy to further successful Maori mentoring for rangatahi (young people).

He Ara Tika Maori Youth Mentoring pulls together Maori success stories - in business, sports and academia - to offer life and educational support to struggling children who look set to fall through educational and social gaps.

Around 17 Maori service providers from throughout the country offer the programme, which, while geared for the high number of young Maori struggling in their teens, also includes non-Maori.

"It is Maori focused, but we will help anyone who is in need," says Ms Samson.

She relates the story of a Hamilton boy who entered the programme in 2002. A regular truant, the boy was close to quitting school because of learning problems. He suffered treatable ailments including glue-ear, and refused to wear glasses because they were "uncool".

Last year the young man passed his NCEA. He is excelling in the sixth form. He plans to continue training to be an electrician when he finishes high school.

"He is a boy who now walks with pride and confidence - in glasses."

His mentor introduced him to a well known local rugby player, who also wore glasses.

His message of "bro, it's cool to wear glasses" convinced the young man they were okay.

Ms Sampson said the Waikato operation was geared to help 100 kids, and had around 75 on the books.

It receives around $114,000 each year in Government funding.

Around 25 mentors offer their voluntary guidance around the Waikato, but Ms Samson said more "committed, successful Maori" were needed.

The service provides training to potential mentors - who range from rangatahi to kaumatua and kuia, who are trained in building rapport with children and learning to identify problems at home so other social service providers can be contacted.

"These kids need role models. They have had enough of people saying they will do things and letting them down.

"It is about breaking the cycle, showing these kids they have more options than crime or unskilled work.

"They get referred to us by schools as 'at-risk kids'. We teach them they are more than that - they are kids with potential."

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia applauded the work of the mentoring programme, which is in its fifth year.

"He Ara Tika is a programme supporting the education success of up to 1000 rangatahi throughout our country every year."

Students who had been on the verge of exclusion had become prefects.