Waimarino Work Skills Programme

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 16, 20 September 1983, Page 4

Waimarino Work Skills Programme

The Waimarino Work Skills Frogramme, operated by the newly formed Whakangahau Trust, is going well, said its coordinator, Mr Wiremu (Bill) Fehi in Raetihi last week. "As with everything else that is new we expect to experience some teething problems," he said, "but hopefully the scheme which is a temporary one at the moment, will become permanent for as long as the current unemployment situation continues." The Whakangahau — meaning 'create work incentive' — Trust aims to provide basic work skills for all young unemployed people, boys and girls both

maori and pak-eha, between the ages of 1 5 and 1 8 in the Waimarino area ... Raetihi, Ohakune, Karioi and, in the long term, Pipiriki. The programme currently employs above seven young people from the area and is being supervised by Mrs Jenny Fehi. Frogramme coordinator Bill Fehi, who has been involved with the Labour Department's FEF schemes previously, is operating the Work Skills programme from his own home and property in Raetihi which is being leased to the Trust. Theadjoining Raetihi Marae is also available and is being used. The programme is divided into different activities involving workshop-type skills, horticulture and eommunity work. The eommunity work is an integral _ part of the programme and is an ongoing activity, throughout the course. It brings young people into contact with others in the eommunity, many of whom are elderly pensioners or sick people unable to look after their own homes and gardens. The skills learnt in gardening, painting. wallpapering, simple house repairs, cleaning and cooking will all be useful to these youngsters later on, said Bill Fehi. The other main part of the programme — horticulture — is largely determined by the weather. Each of the group — boys and girls — have been given a small plot of land to cultivate, plant and maintain. They tend their plots when the weather allows and are currently growing cauliflowers and cabbages. On wet days the group works indoors — the boys in a small workshop below Bill Fehi's house and the girls in the family living room where they are learning to re-cycle worn and second-hand woollen garments and fabrics. These garments are unravelled and unstitched to be reassembled as patchwork quilts, curtains, pillowslips, oven cloths and aprons. The girls are also learning to crochet and use a sewing machine. What will become of the products from these workshops and the land has

not yet been decided ... they may be given to the needy or they may be sold at a nominal charge to raise funds for operating the Trust. The boys are learning basic workshop skills and, when sufficient funds become available, it is hoped to provide a course in basic building and engineering practices including welding. Negotiations to use and upgrade an old shed on former railway land but now on part of the new Raetihi Industrial subdivision are taking longer to finalise than expected, said Mr Fehi. The young people who take on this- Work Skills programme have to apply to the Labour Department to join the scheme and receive payment from the department* so long as they stay with the programme. "One of the main purposes of the schem^ other than teaching b^B skills, is teaching good wore habits, punctuality, reliability etc", said Bill Fehi. "These are qualities that prospective employers are looking for when they want staff and this is an important aspect of the Work Skills programme." he said. The Whakangahau Trust would appreciate hearing from anyone who might have items of clothing, furnishings, building materials, seedlings etc to donate. Just phone Bill or Jenny Fehi on Raetihi 4279.