Helping hand for youth in Hornby

RICCARTON-WIGRAM COMMUNITY

Helping communities by helping people is the philosophy underpinning the work of the Hornby community youth worker Lael Schwartfeger.

He works with the Community Development Network Trust, funded by Riccarton-Wigram Community Board.

The trust’s job it is to help children who need a helping hand.

“We aim to help families in need by running various programmes and offering ongoing support,” Lael says.

The trust focuses on the Riccarton, Sockburn and Hornby suburbs, although opportunities in other parts of Christchurch are considered on their merits.

The network was launched in 1996 and today provides activities to help develop young people and families.

It runs youth clubs, holiday and weekend camps and family fun days.

“We help families in need by visiting, giving them support, and linking them with appropriate community resources,” says Lael.

The network also assists schools with activities that benefit youths and their families.

It always encourages Christian principles and values, and the trust has a strong connection with Riccarton Community Church.

Lael became youth worker at the end of 1997 but had been a member of the board that set up the network a year earlier.

He got into youth work when he joined Dave de Roles, now the network’s Riccarton youth worker, who was running games and holiday camps for disadvantaged children.

In their years together Lael and Dave saw average attendances grow from 25 a time to up to 90.

Their work needed a more solid foundation and so the network evolved.

Lael says he runs an inter-kids rage (for intermediate school age) once a month, a teen rage each month and weekend camps for older children.

The camps are important to allow “parents to have space from their children — a respite, if you like”.

Lael says the work is well resourced by the community board however the children have to pay something towards the activities: “If you pay you take some responsibility.”

Contact:

Community Development Network Trust
44 Elizabeth Street,
Riccarton
ph 348 3738; fax: 348 9337;
email: CDNT@rcc.co.nz