Youth Programmes
The Regeneration network was created to support young environmental and social change-makers and enable them to move powerfully from secondary schooling, through further education and work experience and into purpose related employment that is an expression of their highest values and aspirations.
Leaving school often means leaving the community and in some cases leaving the region, that supported them to take action based on their values. Many young people find themselves ‘shelving’ these values in order to focus on tertiary education, or on paid employment that does not always support their value system.
Through our ongoing working relationship with the EnviroSchools programme, we are now working with a large number of secondary school students. At EcoMatters, we are coordinating the Auckland regional aspects of the Regeneration project. See our events page for the next event. Or for more information, please contact Chris McLean on chris@ecomatters.org.nz
Youth Events:
Waitakere Regeneration Summit
46 youth representatives from Waitakere high schools (and the greater region) came together for the Waitakere Regeneration Summit at Global Café/ ZEAL in Henderson in October.
There was a range of speakers and guests, workshops and planning sessions. These included sessions on global issues and sustainability, envirogroups teaching others about their projects and experiences, planning projects, taking action for our local places, making junk art, and much much more! It was an AMAZING DAY!
Summer Jam
In January of this year, 93 people from around New Zealand including secondary students, university students, young professionals, parents, and elders came together to co-create a gathering of workshops, visual presentations, and group action.
Participants spent time in intergenerational regional groups discussing and designing projects for the year ahead. Participants came from all around the country. The evenings were spent in a variety of whole group processes designed to give people an introduction to the culture, goals, and direction of the ReGeneration project. We were fortunate to have many talented musicians in the group who performed songs and skits as part of our celebration night. We also had two professional groups involved, Auckland acoustic duo “Lemon Pie” and Christchurch dub/ funk band “Kowhai”. In the afternoons there was free time for the participants to relax, reflect, socialise and process the days’ learnings. There were also a number of activities on offer.