Manurewa Marae programme gains double award nomination

Manurewa Marae programme gains double award nomination

Taiohi Whai Oranga, an innovative Marae-based programme in Manurewa, is a finalist in two awards ceremonies focusing on youth leadership and community impact.

The less than three year old programme has been nominated for the National Youth Awards run by the Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Youth Development and the ‘I Am Auckland’ awards run by Auckland Council and the Ministry of Youth Development. Taiohi Whai Oranga is a finalist in both the organisation and individual categories.

The acknowledgment from the Ministry and Auckland Council is recognition of the vision Taiohi Whai Oranga are striving to achieve for youth and families in the Manurewa and Counties Manukau community.

Their work has previously gained recognition when General Manager Deidre Otene was made a recipient of the Vodafone Foundation’s World of Difference award in 2014.

“Our ‘Limitless Leadership Group’ has a key ambition to create intergenerational change. The programme does this and the recognition of this model of Youth Development in a Marae setting is the key to the Taiohi Whai Oranga success to date,” she says.

“Taiohi Whai Oranga Limitless leaders believe that individually we can succeed in this world that brings with it adversity and challenges but together we can truly create catalytic social change for youth in our community and provide support for youth across the country to do the same.

“The work that we do really couldn’t have been achieved without the visions of our tupuna, community leaders, and we would especially like to mention the community collaborative Te Manu Ka Rewa.”

Foundation North (Previously ASB Community Trust) committed five years of funding to the programme in 2014 under its Catalysts for Change programme which provides multi-year funding to support new approaches to solve complex social issues.

“We congratulate Deidre Otene on her organisations nomination for these two major awards The Taiohi Whai Oranga programme when it was first presented to us was already addressing critical issues in the area,” says Foundation North Acting Chief Executive Sue Zimmerman.

“Deidre’s leadership is now supporting Taiohi Whai Oranga to reach well beyond achievements the programme projected. She’s an inspiration to her community – and the Foundation, she’s definitely one to watch.”

The National Youth Week awards will be announced on Tuesday the 26th of May at a ceremony in the Parliament Banquet Hall in Wellington and the ‘I Am Auckland’ youth award winners announced on Friday the 29th of May at Eden Park in Auckland.

ENDS

© Scoop Media