The components we will cover during our RECONEX NZ RANGATAHI PROGRAM are as follows...

1. GETTING STARTED. 

We will introduce ourselves to our rangatahi/participants, share our background stories to rangatahi about how we came to be standing where we are today. We will also invite each participant to tell us a bit about themselves and how they came to be on the program.

We will take part in some trust/rapport/team building exercises to allow rangatahi/participants to connect with us and each other. We will then sit down and have a group discussion with regards to our group Kawa/rules and what we expect and hope to get in return from the program. We will begin an acute/ immediate needs assessment to gauge what personal circumstances are for rangatahi in the moment and refer to appropriate services for any practical or other needs identified. Our aim will also be to provide moral support and positive role modelling to our rangatahi through this part of their journey should they require it. We will assist our participants to obtain birth certificates.

2. DREAMING BIG.

During this component we will work with our Rangatahi/Participants to figure out what their ideal occupation and life might look like. We will teach them how to set smart obtainable goals and identify the steps needed to achieve these goals.  We will help them create a basic CV and provide them with tips and advice for job interviews. We will provide each of our rangatahi with our Local Te Pukenga prospectus. We have also arranged a campus tour and will assist them with enrolments if this is something they wish to do.

3. CULTURE. 

Our participants will spend one hour per day learning tikanga Māori, kapa haka and mau rakau. We will assist our rangatahi/participants to learn and recite their pepeha/genealogy and reconnect with their roots as well as learn kapa haka and some basic Mau Rakau drills that are relevant to our region. We are very blessed to have Thor our cultural facilitator to facilitate this component and would love it if the local iwi or its representatives want to get involved and support us as well.

4. PEACE EMPOWERMENT. 

During this component we will be assisting our rangatahi/participants to look at ways to empower themselves rather than dis-empower themselves. We will look at how to process anger, anger management techniques, how to identify high risk associates, behaviors, and situations and provide them with tools to successfully navigate them.

5. PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. 

Richard will be taking the lead with this component, as it is his field of expertise. We will be running a daily boxing program and also fitness sessions at our local gym (Gym56), who have generously given us access to their wonderful facilities. During this component we will be assisting our rangatahi/participants to build discipline, strength and endurance. We will track their progress so they can see the results at the end of the program. We will look at what a healthy diet consists of and assist them to come up with a personalized nutrition plan as well as take part in exercise routines that can be done without the need for gym membership. We will also assist them with enrolling with a G.P and ensure they know how to make an appointment if they are unwell.

6. MENTAL WELL-BEING.

During this component we will be taking a look at the cognitive/thinking side of things and will cover many areas. Firstly, we will look at cognitive distortions and core beliefs, we will assist our rangatahi/participants to become more aware of when they are suffering a cognitive distortion and provide them with the tools to challenge that thinking and have better outcomes as a result. We will also look at how to go about reshaping core beliefs to ensure they are the right fit for our rangatahi/participants to reach their full potential and ideal life. We will also cover another very important aspect ‘consequential thinking’/pro and cons to help them navigate high risk situations as well.

7. RELATIONSHIPS.

During this component we will will assist our Rangatahi to establish/re-establish healthy supportive prosocial relationships with family and loved ones. We will also look at how to go about rebuilding trust if it has been broken. This is a really important component because a lack of family and pro social support can easily lead to our rangatahi/participants seeking acceptance from people they look up to and make them more vulnerable to committing crimes or the recruitment of gangs.

8. GRADUATION

Upon successfully completing the RECONEX ‘RANGATAHI’ PROGRAM, we will have a graduation ceremony. Participant's whanau will be welcome to attend. We will also invite our guest facilitators, local iwi representatives, as well as any other community services that have shown us support. Our rangatahi/participants will receive a trophy, a completion certificate, and some Reconex merch. 

We will then invite them to speak if they wish. We will also provide a progress report to their whanau, Courts, Oranga Tamariki or any other services that may be involved with our rangatahi/participants, but it doesn't end there folks…

The beauty of the RECONEX ‘RANGATAHI’ PROGRAM is that our facilitators, Joel Nicholson and Richard Heke are also peer support workers and youth mentors. So, we will check in with our graduates/ rangatahi on a regular basis to offer our support and continue to assist them in reaching their goals and to live a better life.