Connecting Education and Communities
Creating powerful educational connections
March 2020: CEC and the communities at Kawiu Marae
In 2010 the Trust established a proactive programme of work that would focus on improving access to, and achievement in education for children whānau and communities who were in need of support. The first five years was a valuable learning time, but it became clear that if we really wanted to be intentional in our grant making and support ngā kaikōkiri to make a tangible difference, a bolder and more participatory approach was required.
Based on lessons learned, up to date research and some exciting new developments in philanthropic thinking, in 2015, with additional financial support from the Todd Foundation and expertise from sector specialists, CEC began to write a different story of grantmaking for the next five years.
Now in 2020, CEC has demonstrated effective practice in empowering communities to have a greater role in attaining their educational aspirations. By being strength-based, allowing time for community voices to be heard, and by supporting locally driven solutions, CEC has developed a way of working that is leading to long-term change in the six communities it has supported.
Towards the end of this journey, CEC engaged the skills and expertise of community change filmmakers Film For Change Aotearoa to make a series of films with the communities, to share with others and to bring the stories of difference and change to life through audio visual media
These unique and exciting films can be found below, we hope you will enjoy them.
The CEC Communities
Through the Connecting Education and Communities programme, the J R McKenzie Trust supported communities to build whānau and community engagement in education, supporting better educational outcomes for disadvantaged children.
Te Hā o Mātauranga, Learning in Kaikōura is a place and a plan designed to foster and encourage learning in Kaikōura.
Our dream is to create a “go to” place for Kaikōura residents who want to learn. A place that will promote opportunities, promote conversation around education and allow space for families to explore together how best to support their aspirations.
Creating Opportunities
We want to facilitate and encourage agencies and individuals to offer learning experiences to Kaikōura, and support people to take up these opportunities. As an outcome, we aim for our families and community to be able to make choices with confidence and optimism.
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Muaūpoko Tribal Authority will focus on affirming the culture and identity of the iwi.
The long-term goals of the CEC project are to ensure that Muaūpoko identity, assets and environment are protected, iwi, hapū, marae are empowered and Muaūpoko economic wealth, health, culture and social well being are enhanced.
Creating a curriculum
The group plan to identify and record Muaūpoko moteatea, waiata, stories, games, legends, art & design and sites of significance in order to create a uniquely Muaūpoko curriculum. They believe this will contribute to accelerated achievement for tamariki and rangatahi who are well supported and strong in their Muaūpoko identity,
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The Ranui CEC project is working intensively with local women who are major influencers in their whanau and community.
The Ranui project aims to empower local women and their whanau and communities through coaching and mentoring, with a focus on creating and affirming cultural identity, relationships and connections, skills and knowledge and contribution.
Their vision is for empowered families with strength and pride in their identity who can confidently face the future.
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The WLCT project is a community development project with education as its core focus, where communities design programmes, projects and activities that strengthen their knowledge, understanding, skills and resilience.
The aim of the Whanganui project is for whanau to have increased capacity for self-determination to connect through and with education in their communities, improving educational outcomes and well-being for the whole of whanau.
Community development
The project uses a community development approach in order to support participants to express their own educational needs, engage actively with formal education providers and have the confidence to impress these needs upon educational agencies and providers and lift educational achievement for themselves and their whanau.
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Tairāwhiti rangatahi and their whānau, supported by ATAWHAI Trust aim to reverse poor education and hauora statistics by deepening relationships and connections through whakapapa, mentoring opportunities and implementing whānau action plans.
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Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi o Ngāpuhi in Kaikohe are building a te ao Māori framework to engage taitama in education, so that they and their whānau can strengthen their connections to education, and develop their leadership and innovative thinking.
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This programme is now completed. For an overview, click here to view our short animated video.