Unleashing Rangatahi Self-Expression

Isaiah never thought art could transform his life. Through our partner charity Ngā Rangatahi Toa's arts-based mentoring programmes, he found more than just a creative outlet – he discovered a way to reconnect with himself, his culture, and his potential.

He'd always felt indifferent to creative arts, but when Isaiah first encountered the world of visual arts, something profound shifted within him. For the first time during our wānanga, he felt a genuine connection to creating artwork that truly captured his wairua.

"Creative arts has made me way more confident in everything I do."

In the humble, quiet and whakamā worlds of many rangatahi, being 'out there' in the creative and performing arts is far from top of mind.

Ngā Rangatahi Toa's ongoing research and direct engagement with rangatahi have highlighted significant challenges impacting their well-being and development.

The three most prevalent issues that rangatahi face are trauma, cultural disconnect, and social exclusion. Trauma, often stemming from experiences such as familial instability or family violence, has a profound effect on the emotional and psychological health of rangatahi, leading to long-term distress.

Many rangatahi feel distanced from their whakapapa, whenua and identity as being Māori. This separation can result in a loss of cultural identity and a diminished sense of belonging. It complicates their personal development and self-esteem. Social exclusion further exacerbates these problems. Rangatahi are often left isolated from essential support systems and opportunities for positive engagement and community involvement.

During Ngā Rangatahi Toa's programmes a magic unfolds as participants find their way to areas of self expression they had never imagined in music, art and dance.

Manawa Ora, is the pinnacle of our year where students create a performance for a live audience. They are mentored by some of Aotearoa's top artists in performance. Manawa Ora highlighted Isaiah's extraordinary talent.

The production brings together rangatahi, each sharing their unique stories and experiences. Since Isaiah stepped onto the stage, a profound sense of pride surged through his wairua awakening a deep, newfound passion for dancing. With no prior dance or theatrical experience, he transformed into a confident performer, delivering a vibrant and exhilarating performance that captured the heart of everyone.

It is clear that engaging in the creative arts can be a powerful pathway to grow confidence, self expression and self determination.

Based on our baseline data for Ngā Rangatahi Toa, 69% of our rangatahi are motivated to make positive changes in their lives to bring about more good things. Additionally, 77% enjoy being creative, and 69% believe that engaging in creative activities contributes to their mental well-being.

Donations from One Percent Collective enable us to continue these life-changing programmes. With this support, we are able to give our rangatahi the gift of quality time, time to explore, time to grow, space to be heard, and to express themselves, in the company of talented artists willing to give their time.

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Words by Andrew Melville, and images supplied by Ngā Rangatahi Toa