A Community Facilitator's Comments

I took part in the initial pilot programme as a community facilitator presenting the Hikoi ki te Hauora at Kaitaia College in 2000.

The group of eight students was of varying academic ability and I worked closely with the health teacher who presented the same programme to the remainder of her class.

This teaching resource allows the presenter to use whatever supportive ideas and resources they believe would best demonstrate the messages of each chapter of the resource.

My success in delivering each lesson hinged on how interactive or how innovative I could make it, ie what I could do, say or demonstrate that would involve students to best illustrate the key concepts.

On my last day at the college, I made the comment to my class, "I don't know who's learnt the most during these last two terms, you or I, but I do know I was well rewarded by some of the experiences you were prepared to share with me."

I took part in this pilot programme believing that if I was of some help to just one young person, something positive would be achieved. In this, I feel I succeeded.

We owe it to our young people to provide them with the skills necessary to successfully deal with the challenges they face in their journey through life.

This programme, I believe, addresses some of that obligation.

Phil Cross
Chairman
Safer Streets Trust