National Youth Council 2019-2020

  • Care experienced National Youth Council meet together in Whangārei for wānanga.

The first workshop for the VOYCE National Youth Council 2019-20 was held on the weekend of August 17-18 at Whakapara Marae and hosted by the fabulous VOYCE Northland team. These brilliant care experienced young people were selected following interviews across New Zealand to find passionate and determined voices to represent youth in care within VOYCE.

Highly experienced youth leadership facilitator and trainer Jamie-Lee Evans, from the Foster Youth Museum, has signed on to empower and teach these young people to be the best they can be while advocating for change for others in care.

Training for the VOYCE National Youth Council includes 11 weekends across 2019/20 in facilitation skills, curriculum creation, confidence and public speaking, understanding systemic barriers for youth in Aotearoa and policy analysis.

We are all so excited for the next weekend already, and cannot wait to witness how these remarkable young leaders go on to practice the skills they learn in advocacy and beyond.

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.