Annual Report 2019 2
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ANNUAL REPORT 2019 2 I HAVE A DREAM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 WHANGĀREI MISSION AND OBJECTIVES I Have a Dream began in New Zealand in 2003 with a group of 53 children – the entire Year 4 cohort – at the Decile 1A Wesley Primary School in Mt Roskill, Auckland. By picking up this US model and adapting it to the New Zealand context, it was a stunning success. In 2012, 38% of these Dreamers achieved University Entrance, The heart of the I Have a Dream programme is our Navigators. compared to 7% of their non-Dreamer peers, and 80% of These full-time adult advocates work one-to-one with the Dreamers entered tertiary study, compared to 30% of their children in each year level, providing consistent, caring adults non-Dreamer peers. This pilot project proved that investing in whom Dreamers can rely on for their entire 15-year journey with the education of an entire generation has a dramatic and lasting us. Navigators have a formal relationship with the school they impact on inter-generational poverty. work in and follow their assigned group of Dreamers through primary, secondary, and tertiary education to provide consistent In 2016, we expanded to four Dream Partner schools in the academic oversight, advocacy, and support. They also engage Tikipunga and Otangarei communities of Whangārei, and by with the children’s whānau and the wider community. 2025, I Have a Dream will work with over 1,000 Kiwi kids. We know that significant social change is possible. Our long-term OUR MISSION intention is to shape educational and social policy and to To build a long-term partnership between students, families, provide positive, effective interventions for Kiwi kids nationwide. schools and community to ensure academic and life success. Using an evidence-based, whole-child approach, we work OUR OBJECTIVES with Kiwi kids for 15 years, from their first years at school until a. Primary Objective: We want to forge a pathway into tertiary they move on to tertiary study or employment. We provide education and employment for each and every participating wraparound services and do whatever it takes to keep each child, regardless of their family’s social or financial circumstances. of our Dreamers on track – because we know that giving kids access to the support and resources they need will lead to b. Secondary Objective: Produce high-quality research that can academic and life success. help inform future government policy (by demonstrating that intervention is cost-effective and scalable) OUR VALUES TŪMANAKO AROHA AKO RANGATIRATANGA WHĀNAUNGATANGA (Hope/Aspirations) (Love) (Learning) (Empowerment/ (Relationship) • Inspiring dreams and • Creating a sense • Tutoring programmes Autonomy) • We work in collaboration implementing a culture of belonging and to support in classroom • Building strong identity- with our families and of tertiary and career acceptance by learning and develop key understanding who they communities possibilities- “I Have a surrounding children with competencies in education are and where they come • Longitudinal support Dream to be a…” significant adults from • Developing and throughout their entire • Developing children’s • Providing equity of teaching skills for life- • Developing leadership schooling journey individual strengths and essential resources communication, goal- skills and giving leadership • A consistent full-time adult helping them realise their they need to achieve, setting, confidence, opportunities potential and talents networks, school innovation and Navigator assigned to resources, nourishment determination • Teaching and developing every year-level of students • Exposing them to new and health skills for work- who grows up with them opportunities through • Advocacy and support at reliability, honesty, time from primary school into guest speakers,extra • Developing empathy school- learning difficulties, management, resilience tertiary/ employment to curricular activities, for others and the subject selection, help advocate and navigate camps, workplace visits world around them attendance, NCEA, • Growing their wings to fly their journey through participation in problem-solving into employment or further • Goal setting with community service education • Community mentors who students and support • Connecting them with volunteer and help connect structures to realise their • Supporting each other business and community them to their future goals through teamwork, to understand “the world developing respect for of work” • Networking with whānau, others schools and communities to connect the dots 3 I HAVE A DREAM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 CEO REPORT Kia ora koutou 2019 has been an interesting year to wanting something different, placing value back in the importance of human say the least! There has been lots of talk relationships to help navigate our tamariki through this technological world. They are and announcements by Government selecting quality over cheap alternatives when it comes to the long-term future about investing in wellbeing and of the health and wellbeing of Kiwi Kids who need it most. There is no greater reducing poverty. sign that this is true than the many email requests we get over our website from We’ve seen news stories that have the Northland Business Awards, which whānau across Aotearoa in strife looking brought us to tears about the state of the saw I Have a Dream take out 1st place for a solution for their child – many whom nation. So it goes without saying that in for Best Not for Profit Charity, as well as we can’t yet help. Similarly, we receive my opinion, I Have a Dream is right on the place 3rd alongside all medium sized many requests from other schools and leading edge of having a quality product Northland businesses! It was my honor communities to expand our project in their to help address some of these issues. to receive this award on behalf of all my area. There is no shortage of need. The hard working team who have kept the ship We’ve been Inspiring Dreams and question comes down to how Aotearoa sailing in the right direction. However, my chooses to resource this need. Enabling Futures for kiwi kids since proudest measure of success last year was 2003 with some impressive life- witnessing one of our Mums stand up in Our Whangārei programme is changing results. We continue to front of a room full of sponsors, bringing constantly evolving as we grow operate and see outcomes that far everyone to tears, when she talked about to nearly 800 Dreamers and 12 outweigh a lot of short-minded short- not only the impact that I Have a Dream Navigators. We continue to provide term alternatives. BUT (and it’s a big was making to her own child, but also the a consistent end to end product, but) our product is one of quality, the effect it was now having on her parenting delivered by a team who are passionate well-being benefits are long term, and view of the future – this Mum is now and agile. This year’s Annual Report and the fact is, we aim to be a leading taking herself to night classes and is even exemplifies this fantastic mahi enabled product, not a targeted cheap quick fix. engaging in Toastmasters. There is no by fantastic people that support us! The expansion of the programme from doubt, we are changing generations. Mt Roskill into Whangārei has not been As we go to print the country is in the without its teething problems and Our growth and quality measures continue middle of the COVID-19 pandemic significant needs and challenges. We to show increasing signs that our quality lock down. We recognise these are have learned to adapt (and we are still product is a wanted commodity by uncertain times for all New Zealanders, constantly adapting) in real-time to the the public community near and wide. especially our whānau and Dreamers. highly specific contextual realities and Locally in Whangārei, we have seen We respect this is a challenging time for dynamics at multiple levels – tamariki, steady increases in our student numbers, everyone, but your continued support whānau, kura, immediate local community, teachers and whānau ratings of the is appreciated, and it is more important wider Whangārei community, Government work we do. In addition, our people now than perhaps ever before. Departments, volunteers, etc. Our fluid of Aotearoa are standing up with their but solid approach is proving beneficial. time and treasures to help the cause Ant Backhouse-Wilson, QSM through volunteering, private donations CEO In 2019 our quality was recognised by and corporate sponsorship. People are I Have a Dream Charitable Trust NZ 4 I HAVE A DREAM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 LETTER FROM THE CHAIRPERSON interaction with the kids was great” I’m pleased to report that we have Visitor Open Day Guest. made substantial progress on the goals “We appreciated that so much thought and effort had gone into how to immerse that I outlined in my letter last year. visitors in the I Have a Dream experience. We particularly enjoyed hearing from all of You will see in this Annual Report that: seriously at how it can expand into the Navigators and having the opportunity new communities. We know that there to engage with the tamariki. The We are doing well on the Primary is a lot of appetite across the board programme clearly benefits from a team Objective of forging pathways into tertiary to adopt proven, locally based and of committed and passionate individuals education and employment for each and locally led programmes such as ours. who love what they do and have the every dreamer. Being able to take our Within the social services sector there wellbeing of the tamariki at the centre of Dreamers on a tour of Otago University is growing consensus and evidence their practice” Visitor Open Day Guest. like we did in November 2019 and seeing that a child-focused, strengths-based Despite all this amazing work we are their faces light up and eyes widen at the approach teamed with Whānau by doing, more is needed.