There’s nothing like navigating a 16-metre-high climbing structure or rafting down whitewater rapids to discover just what you’re capable of.
For a group of 20 tamariki from Stand Tū Māia, a day at Wero Climb and Wero Whitewater Park was a great way to step out of their comfort zone and test themselves.
By the end of the activities, even those who had been hesitant to have a go were laughing, yelling and proudly celebrating what they had achieved.
John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation organised the outing. General Manager Rick Pickard says you could see the children’s confidence increasing as the day wore on.
“One little girl who thought she never would be able to do the climbing activity went right to the top!”
The children, aged between five and 12, are taking part in a nine-week programme with Stand Tū Māia, which provides specialist, trauma-informed services for tamariki and whānau facing complex challenges.
Its programmes provide safe, supportive environments where children can build confidence, resilience and positive relationships through learning, play and shared experiences.
Rick says the tamariki started the day at Wero Climb, working with instructors who showed them how to use their harnesses and encouraged them to test their limits on the adventure course.
“It’s impossible to fall off but it’s lots of fun.”
Then, after lunch, it was off to Wero Whitewater Park to ride the Tamariki River!
The costs for the Wero activities and instructors were covered by a grant from Trillian Trust.
Wiri Licensing Trust supported the Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation application to fund the day out.
Wiri Licensing Trust Community and Marketing Manager Sophie Rider says its awesome for South Auckland tamariki to have opportunities to try new things and enjoy experiences they may not otherwise have.
“Every child deserves opportunities to have fun, discover something new and come away feeling proud of what they’ve done. You could see how much the kids got out of the day and it was lovely watching them encourage each other and celebrate together.
“Organisations like Stand Tū Māia and John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation understand what these children need and how to create experiences that are positive and memorable. We’re very happy to support their work.”
Wiri Licensing Trust wants to connect with local community groups and organisations that are doing great work in our hood to understand how we can better support you – email us at info@wiritrust.org.nz.
