Ngā Rangatahi Toa has been nationally and internationally recognised for its social-justice-based education work and Creative Youth Development (CYD) work for young people. Our immersive and intensive programmes use creative arts and wellbeing programmes to help connect rangatahi with their purpose and to imagine a positive future for themselves.
Many of our rangatahi are on the verge of dropping out of school, or are already in alternative education. They are supported by our youth development team, who have a long-term positive involvement in the lives of our young people and implement our whānau wrap-around approach.
The sense of purpose our young people develop is strengthened through deep, meaningful relationships that happen over time through our intensive wānanga, in-schools programme and end-of-year theatre performance, entitled Manawa Ora.
Our Journey
Educator Sarah Longbottom founded Ngā Rangatahi Toa on the belief that all young people in New Zealand Aotearoa deserve the opportunity to explore their potential through education. During her time teaching in mainstream classrooms, residential schools, and as a leader in alternative education she watched numerous young people slip through the cracks and was overwhelmed by the waste of human potential.
She has since handed those reins to executive director Huia O’Sullivan, who draws on her enormous experience in Te Ao Māori , Youth Development and wellbeing to continue to drive forward and create spaces of opportunity for rangatahi, that might not often get that opportunity to actively participate in creativity or find value in becoming a life long learner.
Sarah knew that to change lives and walk with young people from exclusion to inclusion meant things needed to be done differently, from a fresh perspective. At Ngā Rangatahi Toa this innovative angle is in understanding that all humans are creative and that ‘power comes from risking yourself in creation’ (Paulo Friere).
We cast innovation and creativity as a lifeline to rebuilding confidence and trust, and reeling them back so our young people can be connected to the world around them and contribute to the community they live in. We partner and work with schools to retain and re engage those on the peripheral of school. We partner with the rangatahi and whānau to develop a love for life long learning that goes beyond the school walls.
The journey our rangatahi make is made possible by the support of our incredible partners. Our extensive network of funding bodies, patrons, community organisations and business sponsors all share our vision of young people transforming their own lives through creative youth development, and have committed themselves to enabling the work of Ngā Rangatahi Toa. To join this group of innovative change-makers please contact huia@ngarangatahitoa.co.nz
