In the first of our Youth Week series, we talk to the driving force behind Puna Rangatahi’s support hub for our youth.

Sharleen Stirling-Lindsay is Youth Development Practitioner at Puna Rangatahi in Alexandra. She had a vision of a hub, where a range of support services and activities were available to young people through one organisation, in one place. She made it happen.

“I envisaged a hub space, connections, collaborations, service agencies not all working in silos but working together for our youth.”

It happened over time, she said. Not through her alone, but by listening to what young people wanted and working with the wider community.

Originally a teacher, Sharleen said she had always wanted to focus on working with youth.

“As a teacher, you have a classroom of 20 – 30 students and a curriculum to deliver.

“You don’t necessarily meet everyone’s needs.”

Sharleen said her transition into youth work came about because she felt she could make a difference.

“You’re working one to one and with smaller groups; plus they’re coming to you because they choose to be there.

“You’re meeting them where they’re at and helping them get where they want to go.”

Briana Scarfe (18 years) shows off her coffee-making skills in The Coffee Tin

Sharleen said she was only an agent for change – successful change had come about by giving young people a voice and listening to their needs.

“Moving into the old Spark shop in town came about because young people said we needed to be visible.

“Through the move we were able to develop a central drop-in space where youth could come in, feel comfortable and just touch base.”

By day, the space is now open to anyone working with youth. It has become a hub, connecting agencies and services with the young people they support.

After school, the space becomes a meeting place for young people, and an area where activities can happen.

“The Central Otago Youth Council was formed as a group of young people who would reach out to their peers to find out what needs, issues and concerns were affecting them.

“We then use the information they gather to develop programmes and resources that meet those needs.”

Sharleen said in this way, most of what was offered at Puna Rangatahi was youth led, with adults lending practical support.

“A good example is The Coffee Tin.

“This was developed as a way for young people to practise skills related to running a business, marketing, ordering, work rosters, things to help them in the future – and of course if you know about making a good coffee, you’ve always got a job.”

Sharleen said it also gave young people a way to connect with the community and showcased young people’s skills in a positive way.

The beauty of being a hub, Sharleen said, was not having to have all the answers.

“Together we can do more.”

Sharleen said the future was unlimited, and certainly not mapped out. It was important to remain fluid and meet needs as they arose. COVID-19 had been a time for her to pause, reflect, improve. It had thrown in more of the unknown, and more opportunities.

Opportunities like looking for new, virtual ways to showcase sports groups, agencies and services – anyone out there supporting young people.

“We’re lucky we have the Youth Council to keep tapping into the changing needs of our young people in this fast-changing environment.”

Youth work, Sharleen said, was wonderful in that she could be flexible when things were different than expected, adapt and support young people to find ways to meet their needs for themselves.

“We’re seed planters; often we can’t tell if we’ve made a difference until young people move on.

It’s not until some time later that they recall something, something that helps them in their young adult life.”

Photos supplied