I'm a youth worker at Victory Church, where I run the youth group. I'm also a community youth worker where I run a climbing group.
It’s a programme that takes children between the ages of 13 and 16 and teaches them how to climb. And alongside that, we teach them about mental health. We're following the model of Te Whare Tapa Whā.
I think a big part of this project is building confidence within young people, while also helping them with quite practical skills to overcome challenges that life can bring.
For me, I just love that challenge of climbing. The endorphins, the joy you feel of getting to that last bolt, clipping in and being like, yes, I did it.
I love youth work and I love rock climbing. I couldn't help but connect the dots, through conversations with some of my mentors. I've had the opportunity to make it a reality.
It's still early days. We’ve done two terms now. Going from a group of kids who didn't know each other at all, we're now connecting a lot more and there's this familiarity with each other.
If there's anything that youth need, it's just that connection. It’s those people in their lives that believe in them, that they can talk to openly and honestly and not be judged or spoken down to, but actually heard.
My big dream would be to partner with maybe the council, the schools and some churches and have something available for youth where they just have the opportunity to learn how to climb and as well as look at mental health.
Just to give that opportunity to other kids – that'd be my dream.
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We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
I'm a youth worker at Victory Church, where I run the youth group. I'm also a community youth worker where I run a climbing group.
It’s a programme that takes children between the ages of 13 and 16 and teaches them how to climb. And alongside that, we teach them about mental health. We're following the model of Te Whare Tapa Whā.
I think a big part of this project is building confidence within young people, while also helping them with quite practical skills to overcome challenges that life can bring.
For me, I just love that challenge of climbing. The endorphins, the joy you feel of getting to that last bolt, clipping in and being like, yes, I did it.
I love youth work and I love rock climbing. I couldn't help but connect the dots, through conversations with some of my mentors. I've had the opportunity to make it a reality.
It's still early days. We’ve done two terms now. Going from a group of kids who didn't know each other at all, we're now connecting a lot more and there's this familiarity with each other.
If there's anything that youth need, it's just that connection. It’s those people in their lives that believe in them, that they can talk to openly and honestly and not be judged or spoken down to, but actually heard.
My big dream would be to partner with maybe the council, the schools and some churches and have something available for youth where they just have the opportunity to learn how to climb and as well as look at mental health.
Just to give that opportunity to other kids – that'd be my dream.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
