By Beth Stitely | Posted: Monday October 5, 2015
Elle Brittain is excited to help her students create mosaics of New Zealand birds. Both Elle and her students participate in Anglican Family Care’s Social Workers in Schools Programme at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepoti. The project they're currently working on is called ‘Tiakina te Taiao, Tiakina I a Tātou Katoa: Looking After the Environment, Looking After Us All’. This project seeks to explore strategies of how students can look after themselves as well as others.
Earlier this year Elle and her students visited Orokunoi Ecosanctuary to learn first-hand about native New Zealand birds. Now they’re looking forward to working together to create bird mosaics that will be gifted to Anglican Family Care’s new offices on Hanover Street. “The idea of the project came to me when I learnt that the client meeting rooms were named after New Zealand birds, “says Elle. “We thought it would make a nice project for the students to create some artwork to be displayed for the community, all the while fostering an environment where the students learn the merits and skills of how to work together successfully.”
Social Workers in Schools is a voluntary and free programme that helps primary school-aged students build self-esteem and social skills. It aims to provide young children with the resources and tactics necessary to help them overcome life’s challenges so they can be successful both socially and academically. “Some of our students are dealing with issues of grief and loss. Others are working through difficult problems at home,” says Katie Baumler who is also part of the Social Workers in Schools programme. “What amazes me the most is how resilient the children are despite what they’ve been through. Seeing the kids’ faces light up is so inspiring.”
In the past year the Social Workers in Schools programme has helped 258 students. Six Dunedin primary schools actively participate in the programme and the results have been very positive with 85% of parents reporting improvement in their child’s behaviour.
Elle is also noticing changes in her students' behaviour as a result of this project. "I'm seeing the older boys start to watch out for the younger ones and take them under their wings. The dynamics among the girls is also changing and they're getting along and playing together better."
Anglican Family Care is looking forward helping more primary school-aged children through the Social Workers in Schools programme. If you'd like more information about this service, please visit our website at www.anglicanfamilycare.co.nz