Jane Edwards Programme Director Ph: 09 412 9439 Mob: 021 420 959 jane@fydwaitakere.org.nz Tony Yuretich Programme Coordinator Ph: 09 412 9439 Mob: 021 814 509 tony@fydwaitakere.org.nz PO Box 21241 Henderson Waitakere 0650
FYD Waitakere has been working with West Auckland young people since 2004 and currently runs the Stars and Project K programmes with over 1000 local teens participating this year.
Trustees
Stars Schools
Project K Schools
Bruce Johnson (Chair) Mark Foster (Treasurer) Steve McCullough Warren Angland
Kelston Girls High School Rutherford College
Kelston Boys High School Waitakere College
The FYD Waitakere Stars students have had a great 2012 so far. With 320 Year 9s and over 80 senior students from Rutherford College bonding well . This year many of the mentors were Year 9 students from our first year of Stars and they are now using the experience they had to help the new students. The Year 9s have settled into school and enjoying the support of their peer mentors. These students have undertaken their first Community Project by once again removing rubbish from the mangroves in the Henderson Creek. Unfortunately they are still removing truck loads of rubbish despite this being the third year of the clean up. These students are really starting to understand the impact of dropping rubbish and are doing all they can to spread the word of the importance of looking after our environment.
This year we are pleased to also welcome Kelston Girls High School to Stars. The Peer Mentors have connected well with the new Year 9’s and bonds are being formed. Kelston Girls have also undertaken their first Community Project which has been collecting items for the new intake of refugees in Mangere. The students are now more aware of the challenges of our refugee communities and have developed real empathy for their situation.
Both schools are looking forward to going to camp in Term 2 – in all we will be taking around 600 students over the three camps – imagine the fun!
Watch this space.....
Michael Zwerink successfully graduated as a Project K Student from Waitakere College in 2007. During this time Michael set and achieved all his goals and had the amazing opportunity to skydive from a Hercules with Jump Start.
Michael’s instructors on his wilderness adventure said “As a Project K student Michael’s positive attitude never faulted and this attitude frequently encouraged others during difficult times and challenges. Michael has a quiet strength, is calm under pressure and shows great initiative . Michael was always looking for things to do and ways to help even when others weren’t.”
When asked what he got from Project K Michael says “The massive confidence boost, learning new things about myself, knowing that if I set my mind to it I can achieve anything, making life long friendships with 12 random people."
Michael is also now a volunteer fireman, landscaper and personal trainer and FYD Waitakere were delighted when he got in touch last year and asked if he could be a mentor to a Project K student from Kelston Boys.
“I wanted to share my experience with others, wanted to help make the students mentoring experience like mine. I wanted to give something back to the programme, as it gave me a lot, I will be forever in debt with what it gave me.
"Being a Mentor is probably harder then I thought it would be. I didn’t realise us students were quite so hard to deal with at first (setting goals, talking, opening up etc). But I am enjoying my experience as a mentor, and the fact that I am the first student to come back and mentor for Project K – that’s pretty awesome!"
That’s right, the event you’ve all been waiting for is back!
After much fun in 2011, Westie Wednesday is returning to Waitakere on June 13, with all funds raised going to the Foundation for Youth Development’s youth programmes in the region.
What is it?
So what exactly is it?
It is a Massive Mufti Day….on a grand scale across all Pre School Centres, Schools, Businesses, Organisations, Town Centres and Community in Waitakere! To be part of it all you have to do is “dress up” and donate a gold coin! In other words – a little - over a lot - will go a long way…..
This initiative captures the essence of The Foundation of Youth Development – to support each other - to have fun - whilst pushing the boundaries and creating great leadership skills….. please join us…….
Why get involved?:
It is about Community - It is critical that we continue to help each other as a community. Our young people in Waitakere need to feel like they belong to a community – one that cares about them and their future.
It is about our Young People - FYD Waitakere works with young people- helping them discover possibility, creating a youth population with a positive outlook and eyes open to the future. The long term benefits to New Zealand are huge. It is about identity - also imperative that whilst Waitakere City is part of the Super City, that we do not lose our community identity and West Auckland keeps it’s iconic identity as “Westie’s”.
It is about creative fundraising - The Foundation for Youth Development Waitakere (FYDW) is the ideal charity to take this fun concept and use it inspirationally to help support the youth of Waitakere - and to create a fun event that will foster that wonderful spirit that belongs to the people of Waitakere!
Major supporters