WHATEVER/Youth Week 2024

Time

  • 2:00 pm

Date

  • 04/05/2024

Organiser

  • WHATEVER, Whanganui

Location

  • Drews Ave - Whanganui

WHATEVER is the new rebrand name for what was originally known as Youth Services Trust, or YST. WHATEVER has been helping rangatahi navigate their life and their health since 1991. They are the oldest running youth one stop shop in Aotearoa and provide free holistic, youth friendly health services to young people between 10-24 years old. They also provide specific services to rangatahi who meet the criteria.

Recently, our Whanganui team were invited to their rebrand/Youth Week event in Whanganui, where Drews Ave was shut down and taken over. The VOYCE team set up their gazebo and ran a messages of hope tūhono, where around 50 tamariki and rangatahi came and joined in. Everyone found joy in engaging with the canvases, expressing their messages of hope through writing and drawing.

Some rangatahi took their time to think about what they wanted to communicate before they jotted down their thoughts. One young person in particular savoured the VOYCE colouring book, and carefully considered what contribution they wanted to make to the canvas.

Overall it was awesome to be involved with this youth event, and to get to chat with adults from the local community, as well as get crafty with the young people in attendance. We can’t wait for the next opportunity to connect with more young people.

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.