December 2014 Update

Hello everyone

It has been a privilege to work with you and your organisations again this year. The Network’s aim is to support you in the tremendous work you do with young people in your community. Congratulations on the many achievements you have made this year and thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience to advance the growth and development of effective youth mentoring practice in NZ.  

In this newsletter take a minute to read Pat Bullen's (Vodafone WOD Fellowship recipient) latest blog; an inspiring article about why Kevin Spacey (Hollywood actor) thinks we need to 'send the elevator back down!' and a heartwarming fable by Dr Tim Cavell (leading American researcher on mentoring) about mentoring those we care about.

Also, if you have not already seen it we would highly recommend the NZ film -  The Dark Horse. The powerful messages throughout the film have some real parallels with being an effective mentor to a young person.  

Finally, take a minute to diarise Thursday 26 March 2015 as we are pleased to be co-hosting a presentation from University of Auckland Distinquished visitor, Professor Toni Zimmerman, University of Colorado on Mentoring at-risk youth. 

Maximising Potential One Mentoring Relationship at a Time

Why Kevin Spacey thinks we should "send the elevator back down"

by Jean Rhodes, Editor of The Chronicle of Evidence-based Mentoring

At a recent lecture given by Kevin Spacey at the University of Virginia, he talked about the vital role of mentors in his life and the need to 'pay it forward'.  The phrase “send the elevator back down", spoken by Spacey's mentor, has served as his constant reminder to provide young people with the same sorts of opportunities and role modeling that he had.  

http://chronicle.umbmentoring.org/why-kevin-spacey-thinks-we-should-send-the-elevator-back-down/

A Heartwarming fable about mentoring those we care about

By Dr. Tim Cavell

In this article Dr Tim Cavell shares the results of a study done almost 30 years ago that highlights the important lessons for how to be with those we care about. To convey these lessons he has written a short heartwarming fable about an orphan raccoon and a tree.  Here is a link to the article and story. 

http://chronicle.umbmentoring.org/a-fable-about-mentoring-and-being-close-with-those-we-love/

Must see film - The Dark Horse

This film is an inspiring true story based on the life of a charismatic, brillant but little-known New Zealand hero and chess champion - the late Genesis Potini. Potini was widely admired for promoting the educational benefits of chess in poor communities.  Battling bipolar disorder, Potini was also an advocate for Mental Health awareness. 

The film's script crystallises Potini’s struggles in a fictitious drama involving a conflicted teenage nephew, Mana who is about to be patched into his father’s gang. To Genesis there’s a compelling alternative for Mana: the local chess club, where he coaches an unruly assortment of Gisborne kids.

The powerful messages in this film about being there for the young people, not letting them down, and giving them a sense of purpose have many parallels with being an effective mentor to a young person.  Click on this link to watch the trailer.

http://www.nzfilm.co.nz/film/the-dark-horse

Mentoring At-Risk Youth: A model to address problems in mentoring practice and literature

Professor Toni Zimmerman, Colorado State University - University of Auckland Distinguished Visitors Award recipient

Thursday 26 March 2015, 4pm - 7pm, University of Auckland Faculty of Education, Epsom Campus

The NZ Youth Mentoring Network and the University of Auckland are pleased to be co-hosting a presentation by Professor Toni Zimmerman, University of Auckland Distinquished Visitors Award recipient.

By applying Family Systems and diversity-centred approaches to mentoring youth-at-risk, Prof. Zimmerman and her colleagues have developed and implemented a mentoring model - Campus Corps - that is applicable in many contexts and environments. Her impressive research record matched with her hands-on practice have seen her mentoring model gaining national and international attention, as it addresses many gaps in the mentoring literature including community support, diversity training, and mental health issues with at-risk youth.

2015 Mentor Training schedule

We are pleased to confirm our 2015 public training schedule for our MentorPlus and Mentoring Matters training programmes. 

To register,  complete the registration form

Mentoring Matters

Mentor Plus

Season's Greetings

On behalf of the NZ Youth Mentoring Network, I would like to wish you all a very safe and happy festive season and a prosperous New Year. We look forward to continuing to work with you and your organisations in 2015. 

Meri kirihimete nga mihi o te tau hou ki to whanau

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to your family

Nicki McDonald

General Manager
New Zealand Youth Mentoring Network 
PO Box 99726 Newmarket 
M: 027 520 2981
W: 09 521 8240       
E:  nicki@youthmentoring.org.nz 
W: www.youthmentoring.org.nz