Waipuna Trust

Amount of funding received

$30,000 

About the programme

The Waipuna Trust has been awarded a grant of $30,000 to develop the ‘I am' approach by way of a manual.

Background

The 'I am' approach is about identity, self-understanding, discovery, adventure and living fully. It is a strength-based approach which identifies the psychological anchors and cultural reference points that strengthen resiliency. Its guiding vision is ‘Pacific peoples living glorious lives'.

What the evaluation panel said

Evaluation panel chair, Dr Monique Faleafa, said the initiative was seen by the panel as having great potential as a tool to engage and reach into the hearts and minds of our young Pacific people. "The storytelling focus on individual journeys framed from a cultural perspective towards inner strength and self-awareness is innovative with potential to have far-reaching and long-term positive impacts for young Pacific people."

What Waipuna Trust said

Philip Siataga, senior advisor for the Pacific and Young Parents Support Service Unit, said the trust was honoured to receive the Fakatu'amelie grant and excited about the possibilities for creating opportunities to hear the voices and honour the stories and journeys of youth workers and young Pacific people. "The innovation grant now allows us to develop a project which is creative in approach while being grounded in 'real' tools and approaches that 'we know' are effective in development work with young people. We would like to express our thanks to Le Va for this opportunity. It is with a deep sense of responsibility and love for our people's well-being, that we embark on this adventure."

Page last updated: 8 July 2008