Chipmunks Ōtepoti

Time

  • 2:00 pm

Date

  • 23/02/2020

Organiser

  • VOYCE

Location

  • Chipmunks

On Sunday 23 February VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai held an event for tamariki atawhai and their caregivers to connect and have some fun together at Chipmunks Ōtepoti. The event was pitched at an age range between 1 and 12 years, and we had an impressive turn out on the day with 44 children attending with their trusted adults. Chipmunks was absolutely buzzing with the kind of bubbly and enthusiastic energy that only children having a great time can create!

It was awesome to see all the smiling faces of the children running around and playing together and the caregivers watching the fun with a coffee in hand. This event also provided a fantastic opportunity to connect with caregivers and tamariki and explain the work that VOYCE can do alongside them. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

One of the highlights of the day was seeing our VOYCE youth leaders embracing the chance to play and interact with the younger children. It was beautiful to watch the tuakana teina relationship in action – Mā te tuakana e arahi i te teina, mā te teina e arahi i te tuakana (From the older sibling the younger one is taught the right way to do things, and from the younger sibling the older one learns new things). Many of the caregivers commented on how wonderful our youth leaders were with their tamariki.

Promise Three: Learning

Education as a gateway to dreams, rangatahi are supported to achieve aspirations.

Promise One: Care

Every tamaiti receives nurturing, protection, and provision, as any good parent would offer.

Promise Five: Voice

Tamariki and rangatahi are involved in decisions that affect them, and their voices are honoured.

Promise Four: Wellbeing

Timely, accessible, and culturally conscious health and mental health services are available to all taiohi.

Promise Two: Stability

Young people in care experience consistency, safety, and a sense of belonging.

Whānau care is where a child is being raised by someone in their whānau or extended family. Often it means a child living with their grandparents – but could also be another family member like an aunt, uncle or older sibling. Whāngai is the traditional Māori practice of whānau care.