A call to action for Young People, Whānau, Schools, Tertiary Institutions, Local Government, Innovators and anyone working with young people to join us in creating equitable outcomes for our Rangatahi.
The Waikato Rangatahi Opportunity aims to uncover root causes and insights that fundamentally transforms systems that deliver greater outcomes for rangatahi, whānau and our wider community.
We look to understand:
Why and where are our rangatahi experiencing barriers to successfully transition from education to further study, employment and/or training?
Where should our collective energies be focused to make the greatest impact for our rangatahi?
What solutions or ideas would make the greatest difference to our rangatahi and their whānau?
How might we involve whānau, rangatahi and employers to create insight and breakthrough?
How might we collaborate with young people, whānau, schools, the community and each other to identify which initiatives to scale for impact that lead to our rangatahi being on a positive pathway to have many life options?
We know that in the Waikato we’ve experienced an increase in the number of youth not in education, study or employment from 8,000 (2019) to 8,300 (2020) with Māori and Pacifika disproportionately represented within those statistics. It is also noted that COVID has potentially had an impact in the increase from 2019 to 2020, yet an upward trend has been observed across the last 3 years.
We can also see, from The Thriving Rangatahi Population Explorer, that 22,716 (28%) of young people in the Waikato are excluded and disadvantaged, as at 2020, an increase of 933 from 2019.
There is a great deal of energy, initiatives and work underway in supporting youth to better navigate and transition through education, training and employment, of which we are certainly seeing positive outcomes from.
A core insight from our work to date is that many of these initiatives are mainly directed at youth 15 years and older and as a result we are unsure if it really addresses all root causes with a collective idea that a broader focus is required, and that energy needs to be invested earlier in age, for our rangatahi to thrive throughout their journey.
There is currently a wealth of data available on youth outcomes yet not necessarily in a format that provides an understanding as to why and how rangatahi experience barriers in transitioning through and from education to employment, further study or training.
The basis of our focus
"How might we create opportunities for our young people to be engaged, productive, learning or earning a livelihood and be on a positive pathway to have many life options?"
Using design thinking tools to inspire insight and breakthrough thinking by;
- Combining data, existing research and lived experiences to understand the systemic issues and opportunities for impact as. to why some of our rangatahi experience barriers to successfully transition from education to further study, employment and/or training
- Bringing together cross-sector partners and use these new insights to identify existing initiatives to scale as well as potentially create new solutions (where non exist)
- Understanding how we will track and monitor impact outcomes moving forward
- Creating a case for change across the system to meet our vision
- Communicating our journey, learnings and the lived experience of our rangatahi to connect other organisations, individuals and/or groups to our mahi
- Connecting with other regional and national initiatives, with the same kaupapa, to support collaboration in meeting our vision
What are we looking for?
Project Partners and Collaborators
This is an invitation for young people, whānau, schools, tertiary institutions, local government, innovators and anyone working with young people to join us in creating equitable outcomes for our rangatahi. To date we've received input from 60+ representatives from across social agencies, education, iwi, sports, arts, community, council, philanthropy and tourism. There will be opportunities to join us as we share what we’ve learnt as well as be a part of co-designing solutions moving forward, with a focus on identifying existing solutions.
Our Journey
To date we've received input from 60+ representatives from across social agencies, education, iwi, sports, arts, community, council, philanthropy and tourism. At our collective hui we commenced a Youth Journey Map to begin to understand which services exist, their role and impact, across the youth journey (birth - 24)
Together, we identified three key themes with the primary being a lack of access to timely, relevant data - leading to confusion around where the systemic challenges and greatest opportunities for impact exist.
Secondly, a need to involve our rangatahi and their whānau in the process, as our community know what the solutions are.
Thirdly, to adopt a collaborative approach that includes our young people, whānau, schools, the community and each other.
The Kōhanga Taniwha, the Taniwha's nest is safe pace for ideas to be presented, curated and developed.
An environment where funders, impact investors and other potential stakeholders can hear ideas, initiatives, potential impact outcomes and the investment required for initiatives to become scaleable.
Meet Our Design Team
Pou Turuki
Youth Engagement Mentor
Project Lead
Youth Innovator
Youth Innovator
Executive Director
