Dr Will Flavell, Project Manager at Te Hononga Akoranga COMET is a proud advocate for children. He believes we need to continue to provide them the skills and platform allowing them to speak for themselves through building confidence and encouraging them wherever possible.
With funding support from Tamaki Regeneration Company, Dr Flavell has been working with year 7 and 8 students at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Puau Te Moana Nui a Kiwa and Glen Innes School to create a book highlighting the issues that are important to these tamariki and their whānau.
These stories cover a wide range of subjects including: environment, racism, bullying, discrimination, COVID-19 experiences, future of te reo Māori and allocation of resources to communities.
“My favourite part of the lockdowns was not getting up early to go to school, doing school work online, helping to babysit my two little cousins and I got to draw everyday which I enjoy doing.
What I didn’t like about the lockdowns was not being able to have space away from my whānau, it was too long away from school, I had to cook for my whānau and help do the shopping and chores at home.”
- Rickal (year 8 student at Glen Innes School)