Kidpower Instructor Training NZ Trainees Arrive

Kidpower Instructor Training NZ Trainees Arrive from Far and Wide

On Thursday 20th September, 16 Kidpower Trainee Instructors arrived from all over New Zealand. They were greeted at the Top Ten Holiday Park with a Karakia followed by introductions, a fantastic meal at Hot Mammas Café, and so three and a half days of intensive training began.

“We are delighted with calibre of our new trainee instructors,” said Cornelia Baumgartner, Programme Director of Kidpower. “This is the first National Training by New Zealanders, for New Zealanders and we have been overwhelmed by the quality of applicants and the support of the whole community. With new Kidpower instructors we can meet the rising demand for our popular and successful programmes.”

The training is very comprehensive. Prior to arriving in Motueka, trainees need to learn about the strength based Kidpower approach and start practicing the basic skills with their families or the young people they work with. During the intensive programme they learn and practice new skills including group management, using puppets, role play and teaching those with special needs.

And it doesn’t finish there! To become fully accredited, instructors then are supported to organise and run Kidpower sessions for their own community and practice their skills until they are ready for a final assessment where they become qualified to run their own programmes.

“It’s been a demanding few weeks but Kidpower sessions are so effective in giving people essential skills for life and it will be worth the effort when I can deliver these superb workshops to my community” said Kate Canton, one of the trainee instructors.

Kidpower would like to thank the local community for their support including Top Ten Motueka, for providing a conference room, Hot Mammas for supporting the welcome meal, ANZ and Patisserie Royale for providing morning tea and Mainland and Lion Foundations for financial assistance.

Look out for the new Instructors in your area – if you would like more information on Kidpower, please contact us on 0800 KIDPOWER

About Kidpower

Kidpower has been running in NZ since 1993 and has served over 28500 people. It is a charitable trust. www.kidpower.org.nz It is part of an international not for profit organisation www.kidpower.org

Kidpower is committed to creating communities where people have the skills and knowledge needed to live a life free from fear; communities where people recognise abuse and bullying are wrong and are prepared to speak out to create a positive future; schools and workplaces where strategies are in place to recognise bullying and replace it with positive behaviour. Kidpower wants young people to move forward in to the adult world prepared for the challenges ahead and able to meet them head on because they have been given the skills they need to deal with difficult situations. Kidpower speaks up for the most vulnerable in society including those with cognitive disabilities.

Kidpower also believe access to services should not be limited by personal wealth. No one is turned away through an inability to pay. Kidpower volunteers work in all communities to ensure their work is directed where it is needed most. It works collaboratively with other organisations to ensure violence and aggression is replaced with other methods of conflict resolution.

In 2011 98.7% of adult learners reported that the programme had made them feel more confident and able to speak up and take charge. 99.5% of learners reported feeling more in control and 98.9% reported having increased ability to communicate, to learn, to take charge and to achieve.

ENDS

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