Mural/Graduation
Te rakau wheako I te ora - The tree of lived experiences
This programme idea came about as we wanted to transform the most used meeting room at Life to the Max, to be rangatahi friendly and fun, and we wanted this project to be rangatahi lead. We thought it would be a fitting project for one of our Youth Development Programmes.
The concept of this mural grew from the name, Te rakau wheako I te ora, which translates to ‘The tree of lived experiences.
In session two of the programme, all the rangatahi came together with their ideas, talents, and love for art, and were able to plan this incredible concept in one hour. This group of rangatahi have such talent, compassion, kindness, and inclusivity for one another, which is where the magic of this mural has come from.
This mural has created an opportunity for the community to come together and share their stories and art in a safe and welcoming environment. The beauty of this mural is its ever-evolving nature, with the idea that every leaf has its season, and ranagtahi can put their mark on the tree over years to come.
The whole journey of this project has been a delightful one, with 14 rangatahi involved in the programme and many more involved in telling their story on a leaf. Over the course of the 12 weeks, we asked the rangatahi to express how this programme made them feel in a few words, which included:
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A sense of belonging Comfortable
Normal
Rather be here than at home Positive experience
Made friends
Calming
Refreshing
Helps to wipe away the stress of the day
Thank you to this amazing group of rangatahi for all your hard work, commitment, banter, talent, laughs, crazy ideas, and dedication. It has been a pleasure for us getting to know you all, you are all incredible individuals with so much to offer.