Mentors help youth break cycle and stay in school

EMPOWERING: Team leader Lorraine Mitchell (back left), visitors Jessie Johnson and Niko Sheeran, mentors Jenna Talford and David Winter. In front: mentors Abby Cooper (frontleft) and Linda Voice.

A group of Carterton youth workers is helping Wairarapa teens break the cycle of homelessness, violence and addiction to succeed in their education.

Wairarapa Youth Services, a mentorship programme funded by the Ministry of Social Development, was set up in 2012 to assist 16 to 19-year-olds not in education, employment or training find educational and work-based learning opportunities.

Administered by the Wairarapa Safer Community Trust in Carterton, the Wairarapa service's four mentors help clients, many of whom are considered at-risk youth, apply for tertiary education, apprenticeships, Work and Income programmes and part-time work, as well as advocating for financial assistance.

Service team leader Lorraine Mitchell said the mentors have worked with youngsters from some "horrendous backgrounds" -- who come from abusive homes, have been abandoned by their parents or are regulars in the justice system.

But, contrary to stereotypes, Ms Mitchell said the majority of clients are determined to excel and choose a different path to the generation before.

"Our young people want to break the cycle and to succeed," she said.

"They don't want to stay where they've come from -- they don't want to be on the benefit, or go home to the parent who's drunk all the time.

"They want to stay in school and get a job."

Ms Mitchell said one of the first tasks for the mentors is to get young people on to the Youth Payment or Young Parent Payment from Work and Income.

This can be challenging, as many clients are unfamiliar with the banking system.

"We get them set up with a bank account and help them sort out an IRD number," mentor David Winter said.

"It can be quite phenomenal teaching them how to use Eftpos."

Also challenging is assisting homeless clients -- who have either been "booted out of home" by their parents, or wish to escape unhealthy living environments.

Ms Mitchell said the service has also seen many clients whose parents have returned to their home country overseas, while they have remained in New Zealand -- without access to their birth certificates.

"There's a lot of poverty out there -- you get young people who end up sleeping under the St John's canopy.

"We had one guy who's mother went to prison, leaving him to fend for himself.

"It's really difficult trying to find housing for them.

"Luckily, we've been able to find extended whanau and family friends who can take them in."

Once finances are secured, the mentors will help them take the steps they need towards a career path -- deciding on courses and education providers, goal setting and applying for assistance from Studylink or the Youth Guarantee.

Ms Mitchell said success stories have included clients getting farm jobs, doing apprenticeships in hairdressing, electrical work and early childhood, joining the army, studying nursing and travelling overseas.

"We had one girl who was from an absolutely horrendous background finally get her Level 3 -- she was determined to see it through," she said. "It makes you so proud."

The Youth Service also supports young people and their families through the justice system, helps with driver licenses, coaches on CVs and interview skills, and can pay school fees in cases of parental abandonment. Mentor Linda Voice said the heart of the service was empowering youth to make good choices.

"There are so many options out there, and it can be confusing. But when they succeed, it's a privilege to celebrate beside them."

For more information, go to www.waisct.org.nz