Community outreach centre

Here's a news article I wrote about an outreach centre in Mount Roskill. It never made it to print, which is a shame because its something I think is incredibly important.

Hope you enjoy.

Matiu

Stephanie Vakauta never really had anywhere to go with friends until a venture organised by an analyst and a builder organised what she calls a "hangout for kids and their siblings”.

The 17-year-old student from Mt Roskill Grammar School is one of up to 35 people who hang out at John Hunte and Matt Sheaff's house on Thursdays.

This is even more remarkable considering that both Hunte and Sheaff are both only 23.

“It's our second home. We go there even if they aren't there. We come and go as they please,” she says.

“We find it a safe place to go.”

That safe place to go is exactly what the builder and analyst had in mind when purchasing the house in Mount Roskill two years ago.

However, as Hunte says, initially there was not a welcome reception.

“When we arrived we just got crap for a year. We tried running these meetings in the [Mt Roskill] town hall and people were asking us what the heck we were doing.”

But they have all since been won over, including Stephanie and her family.

“When I look back at it all I can't believe how stupid we were in not accepting Uncle John and Uncle Matt,” she says.

Hunte, however, is not looking for any financial assistance. Instead he's looking for action.

“I think the opportunities for help are for a physical approach. We've been in the community for two
years now and we know most people and they know us.

“Now we just have to figure out where we can help people.”

The ideas of helping other people in need are intrinsic to Hunte and Sheaff, who bought the house they were 21.

“There's nothing so far in my life that has satisfied me more than doing something for someone else. But even out of that position in terms of making me feel good.” Hunte says.

“Something happens when you give something of yourself to help someone else.”

ENDS