Setting young people on right path at Pathways
A youth hub in Te Awamutu is shining light into the lives of local teenagers.
Pathways Centre is a facility where youths who have committed crimes — or might head down that track — can meet with mentors.
Te Awamutu man Frank Berkers, a father-of-three, is the centre’s first mentor.
He spends time with young men who have been referred to him by police.
The one-on-one mentoring sessions are based on “hands-on” activities, like climbing Mt Kakepuku or building a motorbike.
At the same time Frank will chat to the young person about how life is going.
The person is guided through a mentoring programme called Go180. They are asked questions like ‘what am I most proud of?’ and ‘what gets me out of bed?’
Frank is already noticing significant differences in the lives of those he mentors.
During one session Frank encouraged a young man to apologise to the victims of his crime.
He helped another build a chicken coop, which was sold to pay for reparations costs associated with his crime.
Frank helps young men complete community hours and supports them at their appearances in youth court — sometimes when their parents won’t show.
“I just want to be a father figure to these young guys and show them they are loved and capable of anything,” Frank says.
Mentoring vulnerable youth is one of the biggest needs in Te Awamutu, according to Te Awamutu youth aid officer Scott Miller.
“We’ve been crying out for something like Pathways Centre for a long time,” Scott says. “There’s a huge need for it in Te Awamutu.”
Scott identifies youth that would benefit from mentoring and connects them with Frank.
He says 95 per cent of Te Awamutu’s young people stay out of trouble.
“It’s the other five per cent that keep us, the police, busy.”
The most common youth crimes include arson, tagging, car thefts and fighting.
“Kids have all the same issues adults have. Depression, anxiety — it’s all there.”
Scott says various people have tried to get something like Pathways Centre started over the last few years.
“I really hope Pathways takes off — but we need community support and funding to do so.”
Frank is the first mentor in a programme called Te Hı¯koi, which falls under Rosetown Community Services Trust.
It’s an extension of Whare Ora — a programme that provides early intervention and support to children at Te Awamutu Primary School.
Te Hı¯koi aims to have more mentors like Frank, but needs support from the community.
Everyone is invited to the Pathways Centre opening event on Wednesday, September 26 from 4pm to 7pm. Light refreshments will be provided, followed by a cake cutting at 5.30pm.
Pathways Centre is at 355 Rickit Rd. For more information, or to register your interest as a business sponsor contact Frank on 027 372 6548.