Patchwork Issue 3: July 2008
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Youth Action Teams making a difference
Three Police Youth Action teams are now operating in Manurewa, Otara, Otahuhu and six other communities in Counties Manukau.
The Manurewa based youth action team has already linked 20 at-risk young people into employment or training and helped reduce graffiti levels.
Constable Akerei (Rei) Malesala of the Manurewa Police Youth Action Team (Central) said that besides using everyday policing strategies, they spend time getting to know the young people and tap into the community initiatives to help reduce youth offending levels.
“When I first started it took two weeks just to speak to the youth gang members, cause every time they saw me they would jump fences and run away” says Malesala.
“But over time we got to know each other. Like most young people, they have aspirations. One youth gang member wanted to be an engineer.”
The Youth Action team have looked at what else they could do to move these young people away from gangs, petty crime and graffiti.
The Manurewa Police now have a joint local employment initiative with Work & Income and businesses. The Youth Action team personally introduces at-risk young people to a Work & Income staff member who links them into training or employment.
Malesala says, “this has been working well, because of the experience of Work & Income, and the fantastic support of businesses.”
“By targeting at-risk youth and getting them into employment, we are seeing early indications of graffiti and petty crime levels dropping.
The Police Youth Action teams are part of a government response to youth gang activity in Counties Manukau. They are working alongside other agencies and the community to reduce the levels of youth offending in their communities.
The Three Police Youth Action teams cover the following areas: Central Team (Manurewa, Clendon and Manukau City), West Team (Otahuhu, Papatoetoe and Mangere) and East Team (Otara, Howick and Pakuranga).
A Police Youth Action team also operates in Avondale and Western Auckland.
Constable Akerei (Rei) Malesala with Vicki, a
Manurewa Work & Income broker who helps
at-risk young people with employment and
training.
Research now available
The Youth Engagement Report is now available on Youthline website. This report looks at what young people in Counties Manukau think about the nature, design and delivery of youth services.
Part of the answer is for holistic approaches to youth development. “Young people said they would like to see sport, entertainment, health and education services in one location. They would also like services delivered by younger people and from “recovered users: such as former gang members, substance abusers and young parents.” (Youth Engagement Report)
Youthline and the Ministry of Youth Development conducted the report for the “Improving Outcomes for Young People in Counties Manukau and Otahuhu” Action plan.
The report will assist agencies and community organisations developing or improving services for young people in Counties Manukau.
Making music in Mangere
The beat of Hip Hop and RNB sounds attracted over 300 young people to hang out at a Mangere community centre and celebrate NZ Music Month.
The event was one of three late afternoon events organised by the Mangere Making a Difference Youth Team (MMAD). Acts included Dei Hamo, who has supported top
American bands and 2XL from Family Life Education Pasefika who use music to teach messages of wellbeing in Auckland Schools.
Bill Peace from MMAD, said that Maori Wardens and Youth Workers were on hand to ensure things ran smoothly.
“It was a great opportunity for local school kids to mingle and have some fun. With the winter evenings there isn’t much happening in Mangere, so the music event was appreciated.”
MMAD run club nights and mentoring support programmes and are part of the Tamaki Ki Raro Trust.
Bands and Dancers at the MMAD event
New positions in Manukau
An additional youth worker has been placed with the II M.U.C.H TRUST in Manurewa.
There are now four youth workers working in Manurewa as part of the Improving Outcomes for Young People in Counties Manukau Action Plan.
Youth workers provide mentoring, support and recreational activities for at-risk young people. Contact Lana Anae Ostler on 09 268 5108 for more information.
Mangere Making a Difference (MMAD) has appointed its first of two Integrated Case Management Coordinators. Initially, the positions were based within the Ministry of Social Development.
Bill Peace from MMAD says, “the new Coordinator, Soane Papalii will provide wrap around services for young people and has extensive experience, working in the past for Male Youth New Directions Trust and Manuaku City Council.”
Call Bill Peace on 09 275 4474 for more information.
