Mixit: Passing the Mantle of Leadership

The Mixit Charitable Trust has a rich history empowering young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds by providing creative platforms that increase confidence and develop capacity. Since 2006, Mixit has been encouraging their young people or Mixers to engage in collaborative teamwork, grow decision-making skills and develop leadership abilities.

Every Saturday throughout the year, Mixers get to take part in free performing arts workshops featuring dance, drama, music and aerial circus. Professional artists host activities with the young people from diverse backgrounds and experiences to increase confidence, self-expression and communication skills.

“Developing this project has been a long journey of discovery, challenge and celebration, and it is a journey that is still unfolding. This initiative supports young people as they walk a fine line between their past and present and determine their own futures,” says Wendy Preston, Mixit Creative Producer/Director.

Mixit offers a dynamic Youth Leadership programme that is open to those who are interested in taking on more responsibility. This programme offers motivated individuals an opportunity to step up into roles where they face new challenges and opportunities to grow their skills. Youth Leaders take on organisational and planning responsibilities, gain experience of creative facilitation skills, manage the digital media aspects of the project, have the opportunity and support to initiate events and projects that inspire them.

But it doesn’t stop there: Youth Leaders can then graduate into the Alumni team, who actively engage on many levels – as Ambassadors, on the Board, mentoring youth, performing for external events, creating music and participating in continued training to creatively lead and manage outreach opportunities. The rangatahi are being prepared to take responsibility for leading Mixit.

“Currently, we have two Alumni on the Governance Board and have employed another within the staff as Outreach Activator. We also actively look for opportunities to include Alumni as guest artists on the studio floor and have committed to one day per term of the core programme to be Alumni-led. 2021 is the year when we intend to integrate Alumni even more into the Engine Room and staffing infrastructure,” says Wendy.

The Mixit team is committed to training Alumni to increase their facilitation and leadership skills and have been actively engaging these young people to be more directly engaged in the running of the organisation.

“As an organisation, we hold the vision that one day it will be the Mixers themselves who will be integral to leading the future of the organisation. These rangatahi are the nation’s future leaders and it’s our focus to actively develop their capacity and skills through committing to ongoing professional development across the range of skills needed, alongside our activity base of creative facilitation,” says Wendy.

At its most fundamental, the Mixit programme offers young people the opportunity to develop positive skills and participate in experiences designed to enrich their lives. It’s a multicultural platform where young people with refugee backgrounds mix it up with local and migrant youth. It aims to provide an inclusive place of belonging that develops positivity and social cohesion. Mixit is committed to providing an environment that encourages self-determination for young people whose voices not always heard.

“Going through the Mixit Youth Leaders programme firstly gives you best of both worlds. You are still a regular Mixer but with more responsibility. You start to understand and appreciate what goes on in an organisation and the outside influences. It has taught me how to treat everyone the same. Young people have just as much talent and hard work to contribute to society as adults. It has taught me to be brave and not undermine myself. To give things a chance. To be ok with trying new things even if they may seem out of my depth. To go for what I want!” says Munashe Tapfuya, Mixit Alumni squad member and Outreach Activator.

These talented young people are also bringing the skills they have developed back into their communities and everyday lives.

“All the skills I’ve learned from Mixit are very helpful because I use them every day at work. Because of my confidence, my community has asked me to become a youth leader and also, I was offered to become an interpreter to help others at the Mangere resettlement centre,” says Mu Nyay, Mixit Alumni squad member.

With Mixit by their side, the future for rangatahi from refugee and migrant backgrounds is looking bright.