Challenge 2000 in partnership with Plunket’s Car Seat rental service
Thanks to Plunket NZ and donations from Challenge 2000 supporters, we now have two booster seats available to ensure that children are safe when they travel in our vehicles. It also means that these same children have better access to Kindergarten and School, health appointments, Parent visitations and recreational activities!
(From Left Nicola Ngateina, Esther Venning and Kirsten Walsh)
On Anzac Day, Challenge 2000 Hawkes Bay and 12 local young people put on a drama in both Havelock North and Napier with the theme of “remembering our ancestors who served our country by doing the same in this millennium”. Both plays were received well by those who attended and many older and younger people were moved to tears.
A different team acted in a similar drama at Eastbourne and Johnsonville on Saturday and Sunday 27/28 April. Once again it was well received by everyone present. Many people remarked on the connection between the service and sacrifice of our Anzac ancestors who died overseas or came home to build a better nation and the young people’s challenge today to be people who serve and bring about justice and peace.
This photo taken in Johnsonville speaks for itself.
ANZAC Drama, Johnsonville
Anzac Drama Napier
Challenge 2000 staff and some mums have developed an exciting mutual support and development group to assist mums to share skills and love and learn about new awesome ways to build a home for their tamariki.
This group meets every Monday and Tuesday for input and playgroup, engages in other exciting learning opportunities, plan and organise outings, attend community based lectures and examine opportunities for employment and education. All in all it’s great. Felise and Heath collect the mums and children from all around the place and they are pretty good chauffeurs.
Kitty led an exciting session on the Hero’s Journey and what helps and hinders us in life. The question time was great and we covered all sorts of secret and amazing topics – just as well we have a confidentiality ground rule!
Also big thanks to the people who have sponsored car seats for the children and for the Paraparaumu businessman who sponsored nappies! It makes all the difference!!
Anyone else who would like to provide support to our group please phone Nina Ness 022 069 9039 or anyone at Challenge 2000.
Heath and kids working together!
Easter Greetings to you, your family and friends. Please read our latest newsletter. Read more …
Following the Children’s Day Service in the neighbouring church Ss Peter & Paul, children, young people, mums and dads, grandads, nanas, uncles and aunties gathered for Kai, games, fun and community.
80 children participated with energy, laughs, hopes, risk taking of differing sorts!! and the natural innocence and exuberance of childhood. At least 8 different cultures were represented! What richness. With a bouncy castle, water slide and face painting set up there was excitement in the air. After a big barbeque feast for lunch the children, took part in apple bobbing, three legged and egg and spoon races for a little bit of friendly competition. Even the parents, Challenge staff and Gap Students were able to embrace their inner child. The message of Children’s Day is treasure our kids and to recognise the gift that they are to us. The day was a huge success, with everyone, kids, parents and caregivers, leaving with big smiles! It was an awesome event – the photos say it all!
Gap Year 2013 has kicked off! For the past eight years Challenge 2000 has taken on school leavers from all across the country for a year of growth; professionally and personally. This year we have four students from Wellington; Courtney, Siata, Junior and Damien, and four from out of town; Jacob from Dunedin, Hakaraia and Anna from Levin, and Anya from Tauranga. The Challenge 2000 message is out there in Aotearoa and there are people who are willing to answer the call!
For further information on about the Gappies go to “Youth” – Gap Year 2013
Challenge 2000 has had an awesome start to 2013! Thanks to Pub Charity and the Wellington City Council our young people and staff have been able to get out and about in Wellington and there is more to come!
In January, young people from all over the Wellington Region came together to take part in a range of organised sports activities. We spent three days at The ASB Sport Centre in Kilbirnie playing a huge range of sports; including soccer, basketball, tennis, hockey, volleyball, netball and badminton. The range of sports allowed everyone to give some new sports a go and some hidden talents have certainly been discovered! The competition was pretty fierce and it was great to see everyone so actively involved. We had some awesome weather so we were lucky enough to get up to Mt Victoria for lunch one day and enjoyed the view of our great city.
The group also went swimming at Keith Spry Pool where we had multiple competitions. The synchronised swimming was won by the girls despite the boy’s strong challenge and the biggest and smallest splash in the dive pool was hotly contested as was the best handstand competition. Challenge 2000 staff then cooked lunch on the barbecue before heading down to the Johnsonville Community Centre. To finish up the day everyone got their poker faces on for a few games of Mafia.
It’s been awesome to see the young people’s confidence growing and some leadership skills being displayed. What’s more Challenge 2000 still has more to come. Watch this space!! If you’re keen to come along give Ben, Jeff or Thérèse a call at Challenge on 477 0045.
THANK YOU to all the people, whanau, groups, families and businesses that have supported our work with and for young people, families and communities in 2012. 
We also thank all our fantastic young people who have worked so hard to become who they are capable of becoming.
We have young people who are keen to work…we have community jobs for them to do under the guidance of our missions man Felise.
We need a generous benefactor or seven to make some small donations so we can pay them to work. What a great Christmas present that would be!! Young people working for a month – having a purpose – earning some money – benefiting the community.
We would be really grateful if you could possibly make a donation towards these workers wages.
Alternatively, if you need something done around your house, or garden you could employ this able bodied, highly talented team and they’ll be there to help you!
Our bank account details are: Challenge 2000, 01-0519-0057660-00
Or else….please contact Felise on 04 477 0338, or 021 920 046 or Paula on 04 477 6827
2012 has been a hard year for lots of people – some more than others. There are many families and individuals struggling and the pressures, expectations and glitter of the festive season often makes it worse. Some of us are fortunate to have enough and to be able to reflect, relax and enjoy presents and the presence of friends and family. Many can’t and don’t.
Currently we have around 40 families who need additional support – anything we can possibly offer them…they are:
……the list goes on……
Please help us to help these families……we are here working with our people 24/7/52 weeks per year…please support our work…WE NEED YOU!!
If you could possibly spare a few food items (especially fresh food such as vegetables, fruit and meat), or would like to buy some Christmas presents for families, or could possibly donate money or vouchers we would be incredibly grateful. We can come and pick anything up in the Wellington Region.
Our bank account details are: Challenge 2000 – 01-0519-0057660-00
I know that there are many people struggling this year, so please know that if it is not possible for you to make a donation, there is no pressure or expectation – we can always benefit from prayers and/or good wishes (whichever fits with you!).
Thank you for all your support in 2012 – your efforts either big or small are appreciated by the staff and people of Challenge 2000.
Best wishes for Christmas