Ana Apatu: Take a chance on our youth

Ana Apatu.

Our Takitimu Ora Whanau Ora collective is on a roll.

Hawke's Bay has a more youthful and higher proportion of Maori compared to other districts. It is only sensible that our focus for our Takitimu Ora whanau collective is ensuring our young people are engaged in either education training or employment. We target those between the ages of 15 and 19.

Partners Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, Waimarama community, Te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu School, U-Turn and Whakatu community have worked for months, planning, developing business plans etc. Now it's time for action. As chief executive of Taiwhenua Heretaunga, George Reedy has been saying for weeks: "I need to see the numbers. I want to start to see those young people engaged."

We work with our community using a collective impact framework which provides a unique way of working. Collective impact is not about duplication or competing for funding or contracts it is about connecting us all. Put simply: We need each other to address complex issues. Our community hui held in the Whakatu community hall provides the opportunity to demonstrate collective impact in action. Whether an employer, involved with the education sector, a service provider and most importantly young people themselves, we all come together in response.

The evening is opened by Des Ratima, local Whakatu champion leader. Des welcomes us all. The evening is handed to facilitator Jody Hamilton. A brief introduction of Takitimu Ora starts with our video clip: www.takitimuora.co.nz.

We split into groups of employers, youth and service providers. Employers are asked what information, services and support they need to successfully employ and develop our young people. Service providers are asked to map the services and supports they can provide. Youth are asked what information services and supports they need to be successful in obtaining education training and employment in the Bay.

Feedback is provided on sticky notes. We then listen to what employers need. Mostly it is someone who can get to work (transport), be drug-free and passionate about working for them. Young people say they need to feel as if the employer cares, and obtaining a driver's licence is a barrier. When asked why, our young people tell us it is mainly the cost. I am impressed with the frankness of our young people.

Obviously being drug-free is a challenge for some. Some of our young people ask for work experience. They want to know what is out there, what their options are. Some obviously need the money. What I love about this hui is the practicality of our young people asking for a chance or asking for support, and employers and service providers being able to respond. Responses include career mapping, work experience, or, even more impressively, employers were offering job opportunities right there and then, prepared to give our young people a go. I am impressed with Te Ariki Drilling. Te Ariki Drilling offers our gang youth a chance with employment. Even more than that it also targets those struggling with addictions, methamphetamine for example. And they are setting up a charter school!

There has been so much in the media about driver's licences and how so many people in the Bay are driving without the correct licence or none at all. Being convicted with no licence or the wrong licence will introduce our young people to unpaid fines, court fees, etc. This can quickly spiral our young people down a pathway of trouble. Part of the package of our young people enrolling with Takitimu Ora is that we pay for driver's licences; learner's or restricted. But this funding is capped and will run out.

Ngaio Watene from Strap driver licensing helps teach confidence and a sense of what the examiners are looking for for a restricted licence. iHow is for Learners. There has been a 100 per cent pass rate to date. For those of you reading this, come on, perhaps you could assist with funding our drivers licence programme; perhaps work experience; perhaps a job for our young people. Takitimu Ora provides an opportunity for our community to come together to address complex issues. What can you contribute?

- Ana Apatu is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere.