The Pou of VOYCE

Over the last year VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai has had the privilege of working with prominent Māori artist Shane Hansen, who, through a co-design process with care experienced young people, created inspired and beautiful visual representations for the organisation’s five guiding pou.

These designs were officially launched on Friday 6 December at an intimate and heartfelt youth-led event held at Hihiaua Cultural Centre in Whangarei. The function was wonderfully MCed by Jamaya Stewart, who spoke about how confidence-building it was being able to represent VOYCE recently at CREATE’s 2019 Voices in Action conference in Melbourne.

VOYCE Youth Intern Lakiesha Cummings spoke eloquently about how powerful and amazing it was for her to see young people pulling together with adults to powerfully put meaningful art to the organisation’s pou.

These wonderful designs are now being used across the organisation and prominently featured in the VOYCE Annual Report 2018-2019.

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.