Peer Support
Central South Island
Manaaki Connectors
Manaaki Connectors are senior students or youth group leaders who create a positive culture for their kura.
They look out for others by making everyone feel included, scan for bullying and connect those who ask with the best person who can help.
Hear from our Manaaki Connectors at Avonside Girls' High School below:
Developing Wellbeing Leaders
The Connectors are trained in mental health first aid, peer support plus leadership skills. Connectors are put in a position of responsibility. They get a badge plus a bespoke resource book that has the most appropriate staff or services they can take their young person to.
The Programme
Runs from February to the start of term four. Youthline provides 7.5 hours of training at the start of the year. The Connectors take turns patrolling during lunchtimes and supporting other students. Youthline visits every month to check in. The Connectors plan and run a random acts of kindness day. They attend an awards dinner at the start of term four.
Making a Positive School Culture
As well as socially including all students and scanning for bullying, the Connectors practice random acts of kindness around the school or community. The programme aims to build a youth-led community of care as a suicide prevention strategy.
Hear From the Schools
"I witnessed a personal growth in each of them that was evident could only come from owning the responsibility to put others before self, that they could see the bigger picture, that they were coming to grips with that idea that just showing up and being constant could make a huge difference in another person's day..."
—Sonya Pegg, Events Coordinator at Avonside Girls' High School
"The value of this programme cannot be overstated. The training provided has been excellent and the increase in self-confidence of our students has been clearly visible...The fact that it has been free allows our students from a low socio-economic community to access a valuable learning opportunity..."
—Adam Hird, Deputy Principle at Haeata Community Campus
"The ongoing mentoring and check-ins from Youthline have been invaluable. They ensure that our Manaaki Connectors have regular debriefing sessions so that they can share their experiences with peers and the experts."
— Rachel McConnel, Assistant Principal at Papanui High School
"As the school counsellor, I have seen firsthand the positive impact this initiative has had on our students and school culture...Feedback from our Manaaki Connectors has been unanimously positive. Every student involved has expressed a desire for the programme to continue and has spoken about the real value it adds – not only in terms of their own growth, but in helping to shape a more connected, caring, and
resilient school culture. "
— Andrea Jacobs, School Counsellor at Darfield High School
