Le Va scholarships: Connecting with purpose and the power of ‘why’

Over the past few weeks, Le Va has held three mentoring workshops for 80 scholarship recipients across the mental health and addiction sector, bringing students together from around Aotearoa to support their wellbeing and studies.

Futures that Work scholarship programme

In July, 48 recipients of Le Va’s Futures that Work scholarship gathered at regional mentoring workshops in Auckland and Wellington to reflect together as a Pasifika collective.

Le Va’s Teuila Model was a focus for the day, looking at the different aspects of a student’s life and nurturing each petal to find balance for holistic wellbeing and academic success.

Recipients were asked to reflect on their ‘why’ for studying in the mental health and addiction sector. The answers often put people at the heart of purpose:

“I am studying Mental Health and Addiction for those that weren’t able to use their voice, for my Nana and my family.”

“My lived experience has identified gaps and barriers in systems that I would like to hope to be a part of better outcomes for our people, my children and our community.”

At the Auckland regional workshop, ‘Ofeina Manuel-Barbarich (National Head of Pacific Workforce Development, Te Whatu Ora), shared her personal and professional journey through the health sector.

Her message resonated: that career pathways are rarely a straight line, but staying committed to your studies and remembering your ‘why’ will carry you through.

Recipients left the day feeling reset, motivated and grateful for new tools to add to their kete.

Addiction and Problem Gambling Harm Scholarship programme

A few weeks later, on 5 August, it was the turn of Le Va’s Addiction and Problem Gambling Harm Scholarship recipients to unite in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland for a workshop centred on connection, personal development and wellbeing.

Away from the demands of everyday mahi, 32 students – 18 from addiction and 14 from problem gambling harm – took time to reflect on their own growth and build relationships across the sector.

Through shared learning and open talanoa, they exchanged experiences, learned from one another and connected with others working to support individuals, families and communities affected by addiction and problem gambling harm.

Participant feedback about what they valued included:

“Connecting with others to share experiences – meeting new people – encourages me to keep going and is a reminder of the importance of our work.”

“Actively seek out sources of meaning that provide hope, purpose and guidance for myself.”

“Hearing from fellow tauira about their whys and how they got into the positions they did.”

A familiar thread ran through all three workshops: our people showing up for each other, and for the communities they serve. Bringing our workforce together to acknowledge why the work matters is how we build something sustainable: a connected, supported mental health and addiction workforce that carries its purpose with it.

Learn more about Le Va’s scholarship programmes: Scholarships and funding