WHATEVER / Youth Week Event

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.