Category: Challenge 2000

Acting Up

Since being a part of Challenge 2000 I have put my theatrical skills to use in creating and staging small scale shows with the students at Challenge College.  Last year we explored Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and at the end of the 2009 the audience was invited to a party in Porirua in the play called “It’s My Party.”

This year we will have a devised performance to prepare and we’ll be revisiting Shakespeare’s works in term 3.  I have been a professional theatre practitioner for 10 years as a composer, actor, writer, director and just recently I co-wrote and performed a play in the International Arts Festival called He Reo Aroha which will do a return season at Circa Theatre in June. In April this year I was invited to Hong Kong to workshop with students as part of an International Youth Theatre Project called Strangers 2.

I look forward to working with the Challenge College students this term to devise an exciting piece we can perform back to the community.

Ma te wa

Jamie McCaskill

Exciting New Project – LSV

April has been an exciting month with the beginning of a partnership with the New Zealand Defence Force on their LSV (Limited Service Volunteer) Programme at Trentham. Challenge 2000 is providing the social work component on the 6 weeks programme for young unemployed New Zealanders. Tina Wilkins and Ed Thirlwall are sharing this role and so far it is proving to be a rewarding and exciting project for all concerned.

Tina Wilkins

Tina says “ This is an exciting partnership which enables us to really make a difference to the LSV participants and be part of a high functioning team. ”

Ed agrees “Trentham is a fantastic environment in which to work and it’s great and professionally rewarding to be part of the Tri-Services group that operates LSV ”.

Ed Thirlwall

Ed Thirlwall

So watch this space as to what happens next.

Challenge 2000 is grateful for this opportunity to utilise and develop the skills of our own social work staff

Prime Minister visits Challenge

March 2nd was a historical day at Challenge 2000. We hosted the Prime Minister, the Honourable John Key, for meetings and a scrumptious lunch!

PM Cuts wood

Hekia Prata, National MP for Porirua requested that the Prime Minister visit Challenge 2000 to hear and see what sorts of youth services and programmes we offered the young people of Porirua. Mr Key met Community Max Staff, youth workers, Alternative Education Students and staff, our social workers based at Mana, Bishop Viard and Porirua Colleges, our Youth Justice specialists and many of our youth volunteers and young people. Mr Key was easy to relate to, remembered everyone’s names and seemed genuinely interested in Challenge 2000’s work and dreams for the future of Aotearoa – New Zealand.

PM plants tree

Mr Key also helped with some tree planting

Mr Key was also prepared to give everything a go – wood chopping, tree planting and anything else that was suggested. A real Kiwi can-do attitude. Kitty also presented Challenge 2000’s hopes of being a Whanau Ora provider to him – here’s hoping

PM talks with a participant