Youth Empowerment in 2022
It’s no secret last year was extremely tough with lockdowns – especially for our rangatahi – and presented new challenges for those working in the youth sector. Despite these setbacks, the Youth Empowerment team rallied and continued to put in the hard mahi to address the emerging needs of rangatahi, which includes the ever-present issues around alcohol and drug harm. The CAYAD team, nested in Youth Empowerment have been focusing on opportunities for influence in the alcohol harm reduction space and supporting the youth sector with capacity development.
For 2022, Youth Empowerment Team manager Rachel Turner says the team will continue to focus their practice on approaches that meaningfully and inclusively engage rangatahi and practitioners in the youth sector.
“We are using what we learn to shape and shift views on the importance of rangatahi aspirations and priorities being incorporated into strategic, policy and investment decisions.”
The team will be working with rangatahi and youth sector practitioners to help shape decisions and solve complex problems around issues impacting rangatahi such as: drug and alcohol harm, increasing wellbeing, access to fitness opportunities for gender diverse rangatahi, and safety in the central city.
This will be done by:
Testing new ways of working to promote youth participation and wellbeing.
Shifting mental models about what meaningful rangatahi voice/participation looks like.
Upskilling Council departments, community organisations, businesses and groups working across Tāmaki Makaurau in effective rangatahi voice, participation and wellbeing practice.
Encouraging practice that meaningfully and inclusively engages rangatahi in shaping decisions and solving complex problems.
Holistically addressing the multiple factors perpetuating alcohol harm in Tāmaki Makaurau.