Eastern and Central Community Trust is thrilled to announce the completion of its Rangatahi Action Plan, which sets out the Trust’s funding priorities for rangatahi aged 10-24 years over the next four years.
“The Plan is for young people, by young people,” Eastern and Central Community Trust Chair, Georgina Morrison says.
The Action Plan is the culmination of nine months’ work by Rōpū Taiohi, a group of young people heading the Action Plan process on behalf of Eastern and Central Community Trust (ECCT). The group led a series of wānanga, workshops and conversations with over 400 youth from throughout ECCT’s region, listening to their thoughts, experiences, challenges and aspirations.
“We have drawn on the mātauranga of rangatahi who are not often heard in decision-making,” ECCT Rōpū Taiohi member, Piripi Ropitini says.
“This Action Plan is about empowering rangatahi and valuing their korero and diversity, putting them at the centre and developing things with them, not for them.”
Rōpū Taiohi will launch the Action Plan on 11 August at INVOLVE conference, a national conference held in Wellington, focussed on youth health and development in New Zealand.
Priority areas identified in the Action Plan include:
- Rangatahi voice and leadership: Seeing rangatahi valued as leaders in their communities, proud to express their cultural diversity.
- Positive connections: Rangatahi supported by positive mentors.
- Creating opportunities: Seeing systems that cause poverty, racism and exclusion replaced by mana taurite and power sharing.
- Pathways for futures: Seeing rangatahi with positive views of their future with growth pathways.
Following the launch, Eastern and Central Community Trust and Rōpū Taiohi will work together to determine how the priorities will be achieved, with funded activities beginning from 1 April 2022.
Piripi, from Nuhaka, says being part of Rōpū Taiohi has allowed him the opportunity to represent the authentic realness of the rangatahi in his region.
“We have brought attention to the needs of the young people back home and voicing their struggles and strengths,” Piripi says.
Fellow Rōpū Taiohi member, Mihikotukutuku-Maira Lawson, of Dannevirke, adds “Rangatahi youth voice is important for the action plan because they are our future, and their voices need to be heard.”
Georgina says the Board has thoroughly enjoyed venturing on this journey with Rōpū Taiohi and congratulates them on the hard work they have put in.
“We look forward to seeing our Rangatahi Action Plan flourish and make an impact in the regions we serve.”
For more information see the Rangatahi Action Plan on our website.
