Pool time for students who are part of the Tamariki Mentoring Project.
Pool time for students who are part of the Tamariki Mentoring Project.
Iwi education manager Ngahina Transom is excited by the success of her rangatahi (teenage students) in a school mentoring programme.
Mokai Patea Services, in collaboration with Taihape Area School and led by Ngahina, provides a programme that supports, motivates and inspires students to achieve NCEA Level 2 or anequivalent qualification.
"We want these students to have the opportunity to be empowered with confidence to achieve their desired aspirations. And I am very happy to say it is working," said Ngahina.
The programme runs at the school every week for two hours, from 4pm to 6pm, with a diverse range of workers and teachers talking to the students.
Each student is also allocated a "whanau champion", people in the community who have strengths with encouraging and enforcing positive values.
Iwi education manager at Taihape Area School, Ngahina Transom.PHOTOS/SUPPLIED
Ngahina said the programme had been so successful with the older students that a second programme was now starting up for the younger students, aged from 5 to 11.
"We have an amazing range of people coming in to talk to these students," she said.
"Life achievements is what we're all about. We had a group of rail workers come in and talk, men and women from the NZ Army, and chefs and people from all walks of life."
School principal Richard McMillan said the programme had a hugely positive effect on the students.
"You can see them change; it's working brilliantly here." Ngahina said running the programme at Taihape Area School was probably one of the most "satisfying experiences" she had been involved with.
"To see these students grow, and see what personal belief in yourself can achieve, is very special."
