Graeme Dingle Foundation school programmes get funding
Two school programmes that improve the lives of Far North tamariki and rangatahi received a $5000 grant from the local community board recently. Find out about the programmes here.
Two school programmes that improve the lives of Far North tamariki and rangatahi received a $5000 grant from the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board during its meeting on Thursday 31 August.
The Graeme Dingle Foundation, based in Kāeo, helps students aged five to 18 years realise their potential by developing self-confidence and life skills through its Kiwi Can and Ngā Ara Whetū school programmes.
Both programmes focus on building leadership, resilience and positive relationships. Kiwi Can has been running for over 20 years in Far North schools. Ngā Ara Whetū (Career Navigator) is a mentoring programme based on the te ao Māori framework of tuakana (older sibling) mentoring their teina (younger sibling).
Studies found the programmes reduced criminal offending, improved academic outcomes, attitudes and behaviour and also increased self-confidence, resilience and wellbeing.
The values underpinning Kiwi Can are explicit in the programme’s four themes of whakawhanaungatanga (positive relationships), pono (integrity), taikaha (resilience) and manaakitanga (respect).
Ngā Ara Whetū involves school seniors mentoring Year 9 students as they transition into college life. The same senior students are in turn mentored by members of the community. Often, this can lead to jobs for these students or to further tertiary study.
The $5000 community board grant will go towards travel costs for staff getting to and from schools across the district.
You can find out more about the foundation on their website.
