In celebration of Social Justice Week, Challenge 2000 welcomed high school students of inner city Wellington and the surrounding region to our new home at Wanaka Street to enjoy a shared meal and reflect on this past week dedicated to the theme of “Weaving Bonds of Belonging and Getting to Know Our Neighbours”.

Guest speaker Matalena Leaupepe visited the group of about 30 young people giving insights into her career as a public servant. Then it was time for the group to head out into Wellington’s streets to observe nightlife– as an opportunity to make connections with those sitting in the streets, the homeless, the lonely and/or those just wanting a chat.

The group later returned to our Wanaka Street Chapel for a marae-style-overnighter expecting to be woken up bright and early the next day to bake cookies and create a short drama for the residents of Johnsonvale Home, a home for the elderly within our Johnsonville Community. The event was concluded back at Challenge 2000, checking-in on everyone’s experiences through out an entire week that featured a movie night and a cookie-making event for our youngest ones amongst other things), as well as a brief reflection on the experiences gathered during the final weekend of Social Justice Week. Our thanks to those who participated and made this week possible! We look forward to seeing you for Social Justice Week 2018!