Growing Our Wellbeing - Malie!
The art of Tivaevae with Kyani Utia
The Malie (Wellbeing) Project has evolved beyond workshop-based learning to provide holistic, wraparound support that includes personalised one-on-one mentoring, empowering young people to navigate the challenges and opportunities of adulthood with confidence. This project now has a caseload of over 20 young people who have voiced they need extra support and help.
The one-on-one support addresses the gaps that young people do not think about or don’t have the finances or resources to achieve, such as:
Learners Licensing
Enrolling into further education – universities, training institutions
Enrolling into dentist and doctor’s
Referrals to driving lessons
Referrals for counselling
The pastoral support provided through this program supports the young people with their holistic well-being needs (physical, mental, emotional and social) which has been well received by the young people it serves.
Foufou & Ula creation with Jessie Atutolu-Tulisi
The Malie Project continues to deliver monthly workshops for our young people. During the month of May, our focus was on realigning and reconnecting our youth with their Pasifika cultures through Cultural Competency creative sessions.
The first of the two sessions focused on foufou/ula creation, while the second explored the art of Tivaevae. These workshops were designed and facilitated by talented experts from our Pasifika community, and we are incredibly grateful that their passion and heart shine through as they teach these important cultural traditions.
A heartfelt thank you to creative professionals Jessie Atutolu-Tulisi and Kyani Utia for generously sharing their expertise and passing on the knowledge of our cultural practices to the next generation. Their contribution continues to strengthen the cultural identity, pride, and sense of belonging of our young people.
Interview preparedness with Found & Co Director Siedah Ioane
We planned a month dedicated to employment readiness, through a 3-part workshop series called Guided by Culture, Ready for Opportunity. These workshops addressed the following:
Creating or updating a CV, Cover Letter and Online Employment Portfolio's through Seek and LinkedIn
Interview Preparedness delivered by Found & Co director Siedah Ioane which focused on mock interviews, body language, common questions & mindset and confidence side of things.
Professional Etiquette focusing on what professionalism looks like once employed but through a Pasifika lens.
The Guided by Culture, Ready for Opportunity workshops were a great way to prepare our young people to build confidence in themselves as they prepare for employment. One of the greatest highlights was seeing some of our youth, who initially lacked the confidence to speak in wider group discussions, find their voice and grow in confidence to speak up for themselves and share their valuable opinions and experiences.
A special acknowledgement goes to Found & Co, Director Siedah Ioane, for facilitating Workshop 2. An expert in her field, Siedah empowered our Pasifika youth to stand tall and know they can thrive in any professional setting. Fa'afetai tele lava, Siedah.
Over the past few months, The Malie Project has remained busy, but more importantly, intentional with the workshops and pastoral support we have provided. The purpose of this project is to support our Pasifika talavou in West Auckland to become their best selves. Through this purpose, the mahi has been plentiful, and the fruits of that work are slowly but surely beginning to blossom through the confidence, growth, and character our young people demonstrate every day.
