Our Program
The Whakakaupapa Unbreakable program is an initiative established in 2023 which aims to support rangatahi who face societal barriers which restrict their access to physical activity. These barriers include (but are not limited to) being undereducated, systemic racism, financial hardship, and multiple marginality. The program is available to youth in various settings, including in-community alternative education facilities such as Te Kupenga o Aranui, and in-residence youth justice residences such as Te Puna Wai o Tuhinapo and Te Poutama Arahi Rangatahi.
We believe everyone has the right to move their body and enjoy doing so. We acknowledge the importance of physical activity and movement not only on a physical level, but also on a mental plane too. There are many studies which reinforce how increased physical activity improves overall wellbeing and even reduced negative emotions such as depression and loneliness, which are very prevalent in the rangatahi our program targets. We noticed that youth who face multiple hardships have limited access to physical activity, and the quality of the physical activity fluctuated. Through the Whakakaupapa Unbreakable program, we hope to tackle this issue and provide in-depth
The program is executed during the school term in two ten-week iterations. These iterations being one in-community, such as at an alternative education facility and one in-residence at a youth justice residence.
Whakaupapa Unbreakable uses the physical context of the three powerlifting movements (Squat, Bench, Deadlift) with a focus on holistic health education, ensuring a higher chance of positively impacting participants’ physical and mental well-being.
The program ran for the first time in 2023 and was deemed very successful. Throughout the implementation the program, staff observed improved confidence, interpersonal skills, and increased access to physical activity for kiritaki (participants).
“I know now how to get stronger in my home gym.”
Our Success
Achievements:
Improved Confidence: Kiritaki reported increased confidence, especially in accessing physical activity independently.
Interpersonal Skills: Positive changes in communication and teamwork skills were observed, particularly during spotting exercises. Encouraging prosocial behaviour is incredibly important, especially for rangatahi who are actively involved in the criminal justice system due to its numerous benefits.
Access to Physical Activity: There was an observed increase in kiritaki engagement in physical activity, both within the program and in the community.
Positive Feedback: Both kiritaki and the education team expressed positive feedback and interest in continuing the program.
“What can we do to see the continuation of this program?”
What’s next?
In 2024, Whakakaupapa Unbreakable looks forward to building on existing relationships with 2023 connections and also forming new connections in other settings. We have four programs planned so far for 2024, two in-residence and two in-community. These will run within Terms 1, 2, and 3.
Unbreakable Foundation 