Next Thursday, 6 February at 11am

This is your final chance to get your applications in for Gap Year 2020!

This year’s Gap Year is shaping up to be one of the biggest and best yet!

Since 2007 the Society of Mary and Challenge 2000 have offered a full time gap year programme based in Wellington. Each year, eight young people accept the challenge to say “yes” and spend a year at Challenge 2000 developing, growing and serving others in our community.

In 2018, an internship was also integrated to the programme, this gives young people who have recently graduated or about to graduate an opportunity to gain work experience and prepare themselves for the workforce.

If you are under 20 years of age and want more life experience, an opportunity to serve and to be part of a positive active community, then contact us and apply for our Gap Year.
Each year, there are only 8 places available for gap students and interns.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE AND GET YOUR APPLICATION IN NOW!

The Porirua College Barbershop Mixed Quartet have only been singing together since this year and earlier this year they gained 1st place in the overall Wellington Regional Competition. This incredible accomplishment earned them a place to compete at The National Young Singers’ In Harmony Barbershop Singing Competition in Christchurch, September 10^th-13^th.

This is a very prestigious event and we are very proud of their huge accomplishment. When Eline Avia approached us looking for financial support, Challenge 2000 was more than happy to help the two quartets meet the competition costume and transportation costs for the trip down south to represent Porirua College. 

This update from Eline:

Thank you again for your amazing support…
Our trip was memorable and we are so grateful to our sponsor for the financial support that met some of the costs of our trip.

We had the most amazing time and our students came away from the Competition knowing they had given their best as they represented our school, families and community in true PC Pride style. The experience our students gained performing at top level is something they will always fondly remember.

Our young people are amazing. During our debrief afterwards our students shared about being grateful for the lifetime connections they made with other students from around NZ and for the opportunity to compete at top level! Priceless!!
Thank you for being a part of making dreams their come true!
Warmest regards,
Eline Avia – Porirua College

You’re welcome team and congratulations again!

HELP US TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES

We are holding our annual Street Day Appeal on Thursday 14th November. If you are willing and able to help us, please get in touch. Or, aside from the appeal, you might like to consider:

• Volunteering
• Emailing your friends/business colleagues/family members asking them to support our work
• Praying for young people who are struggling and those who journey with them
• Donating directly

Contact Anne Harlow or John Robinson on 04 477 6827 or email info@challenge2000.org.nz.

Your help is greatly appreciated!

This year’s Gap Year is shaping up to be one of the biggest and best yet!

Since 2007 the Society of Mary and Challenge 2000 have offered a full time gap year programme based in Wellington. Each year, eight young people accept the challenge to say “yes” and spend a year at Challenge 2000 developing, growing and serving others in our community.

In 2018, an internship was also integrated to the programme, this gives young people who have recently graduated or about to graduate an opportunity to gain work experience and prepare themselves for the workforce.

If you are under 20 years of age and want more life experience, an opportunity to serve and to be part of a positive active community, then contact us and apply for our Gap Year.
Each year, there are only 8 places available for gap students and interns.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE AND GET YOUR APPLICATION IN NOW!

APPLICATIONS CLOSE 1st DECEMBER

This Friday 4th October is St Francis of Assisi Feast day.

St Francis of Assisi Ohariu parish invites you to a Creation Liturgy at SS Peter and Paul Church, 3pm at 37 Dr Taylor Terrace, Johnsonville.

Following the liturgy we will be having a Pet Parade so bring along your pets for a blessing or wear an animal onesie! We’ll see you there!

World Suicide Prevention Day

On September 10th, members of the Challenge whānau, joined together to commemorate World suicide prevention day. A small group of staff organised the event and invited family, friends and staff who had been changed by the effects of suicide in recent years.

The organising group chose to plant three trees as a focus of hope, growth and shelter. All our whānau met, Harley lead karakia and Kitty spoke of the dignity and importance of each and every person and how we all had an essential mission in life to love others and to support each other. Then our missions team lead the planting and each person touched the trees, giving a blessing , remembering the losses and committing to be people of hope and love. It was a very moving and special time.

Read below for comments from our whānau.

Sara – Gap Year Student
In September the Challenge whānau marked international suicide awareness and prevention week. To me Suicide awareness is about making an active effort to normalise discussions around suicide and take away the stigma we have around suicide in Aotearoa. Support from people who care, connection with one’s sense of culture, purpose and identity all play huge roles in suicide prevention. It is a discussion with the aim of understanding and hope that – Things will get better and it all starts with the first korero.
At Challenge we chose this week as an opportunity to celebrate life. Three trees were planted to commemorate and show love to those that have been lost in our community. These trees also signify hope and a better future for our families and communities. Following this was a chance for every-one to sing waiata and have a chat to one another with tea and kai.  Suicide awareness week is a great place to begin to get the conversations going, however, it is important to remember that we need to have these conversations not just this week – but every week.

Mapihi – Youth Worker
It was so special to have a time where our whānau and friends could come together and Be. I felt unified, loved, graced and just really appreciated every single person that came.

Heath – Intern Psychologist
When we gathered together it was difficult sitting in the same place where my late friend lay the year before. Being together made it a bit easier. It made me think that we need to take the opportunities to remind each other how much we value each other and show our interest in each other’s life.

Viv – Youth Services Manager
I was appreciative and grateful to be a part of planting hope. The sincerity of those who turned up from our wider whanau was moving and showed me how much we love and cared for those who we lost. One word sums it up: Serenity – a state of being calm and peaceful.