TE RITO

“I can’t thank you enough for all that you have done to support us. You have been our biggest support and stronghold, always there through it all. I know that my girl has more healing to do but you have changed her so much already. She is happier and just so focussed on her future which she couldn’t see before.”

“I am so glad I came here when I did, I was lost and didn’t know where to go or what to do. Yes, I had my aunty, but I didn’t want to trouble her too much. I felt like I had lost who I was as a person, I stopped doing everything, living. I’m now independent, I have a life, I have friends, I can go out in town and hang out with my friends, I can be a teen. I have started going to the gym, I’m not worried about what I wear or how I need to hide myself, I can be me, I can breathe.”

“Our tamariki and kaiako were thrilled with the day. We have a few very tired children at school (staff too, I am sure). Thanks so much for all your efforts, time and koha! “Kids had a spectacular time yesterday and have been raving about the mahi they did with you all yesterday. A huge thank you to all of your amazing team. What a great bunch of kaimahi you have. See y’all again next year!” — Principal of local kura

“I admired the respect shown towards my faith and the fact that it was allowed. The diversity between the whānau and how we’re all here for the same reason despite our different circumstances. The freedom within our speech, the inclusion, building relationships. Shows we are ‘not alone’ especially in the struggle of raising children. Being a mother can be a very lonely part of life” — Parent

“We are really seeing some awesome changes in our wee man and tried some of the communication techniques you provided this evening with his fear of being told off and he not only told us what happened but apologised to his brother.” — Caregiver of Tamariki

“He has moved from being so anxious that he can’t leave the house to interacting with the boys at Te Kura and realizing that not all children will bully him. He is giving things a go now. This is huge.” — Parent of 10-year-old boy

“I don’t feel so scary going to talk to the judge because I feel safe and know that no one can hurt me anymore.” – Tamariki aged 10 years old

“What helps me is expressing my feelings and emotions and getting things out of me so it’s not so heavy on my shoulders. I love this place so much, it feels like home, everyone is so nice.”

“[Tamariki] has loved play hui with Therapist.  From her first hui, she started off quite down and shy.  She has progressed and come such a long way.  She has shown signs of confidence boosts and loves that she gets to decide how her play hui runs.  Over time I have seen my girl open up and become her bubbly self again.  I myself and close family have noticed these changes.  Conversations with my girl after each hui have been heartwarming and uplifting for me as her māmā.  She loves therapist and speaks so highly of her always. I have no words to express how uplifting this is as a māmā to see my girl grow and blossom.  I have missed my girl and am so grateful for Āwhina.  Everyone here are like family to us.  We thank you all so much.  Thank you so much for your support from day one.  I know [Tamariki] absolutely adores you and loves her time out with you and I.”

“No words will ever describe how grateful I am to you, and I can never thank you enough. I would like to say I have come a long way from the person I once was, thanks to you I can now achieve all the things I once thought was just a fantasy, and you helped me believe anything I set my mind to is possible. I will be forever grateful for the generosity of heart and spirit in sharing your world with me. You are the reason I'm happy please don't ever forget that.”

"Ehara taku toa I te toa takitahi, engari taku toa I te toa takitini
Nau ahau I tipu ake ki oku wawata.
Kua piki ake ahau nā to tautoko.
Kaua e wareware nga mea kua mahia e koe mō ahau, mai te tope ō tōku manawa, tēnā koe.”

“Your relationships and activity based learning has had a significant impact on the hauora of our ākonga. It is a space for whanaungatanga, connection, belonging and mahi tahi. You have provided opportunities for rangatahi to strengthen their resilience and experience success, which can then be celebrated and built on at kura.”

“Love how warm and welcoming staff at Āwhina are. Ngā mihi.”

“Real people, helping real people. Amazing service!!”

“Fantastic organisation, with the most beautiful staff.”

“This has been my best experience with therapy so far.”

“[Rangatahi] was getting into trouble with the Police, hanging around with the wrong crowd and he was quite out of control when [Kaiwhakamārie] first started mentoring him. Today, he has grown into a fine responsible young man who, when he gets into the workforce, will do a great job for whoever employs him. He no longer gets into trouble with the Police and he realises he was hanging around with the wrong crowd and has no desire to go back to that life. He controls himself well and he thinks maturely about things before he makes decisions. A large part of the success of [Rangatahi’s] journey in becoming the person he is today is because of the great work [Kaiwhakamārie] has done with him over the time he has been mentoring him.”