WelCom December 2021
Challenge 2000 was founded by Kitty McKinley in Wellington’s Johnsonville Catholic parish in 1988 as a youth and community development agency as a response to the gospel call to love, serve and to bridge the gaps to support people from becoming their best selves. Challenge remains committed to working to change or abolish unjust structures that have alienated and marginalised the poor, the different and those without a voice. Personal dignity, love, social justice, and social responsibility are Challenge values. Today, Challenge 2000 has 44 staff who, every year, work alongside more than 4000 young people in schools, the community, churches and in Challenge centres. ‘We also work to strengthen many families and do what we can, when we can, whenever it is necessary,’ says Kitty.
For more information, ph (04) 477-6827 or visit challenge2000.org.nz
Challenge Youth Houses provide positive, safe, whānau environments where young people can live and learn to build community and life skills. Photo: Supplied
Challenge 2000 is looking for more people to join its mission as Community Leaders.
With support from the Society of Mary and the Sisters of Mercy, Challenge 2000 has four youth houses in the southern suburbs of Wellington, which provide positive, safe, whānau environments where young adults can live and learn to build community and life skills.
The houses are run by committed Community Leaders, including married couples, single people, university students and volunteers who want to make a difference.
Each Youth-House community offers care to two or three young people seeking better educational opportunities or employment in Wellington and who may need a safe place to call home. House members learn how to cook, care for the house, care for themselves and others and contribute to the well-being of the wider community through service and participation.
The Community Leaders are provided with fair and equitable living expenses as well as the ability to share their gifts and themselves. Training and support are provided for this work.
Challenge 2000 invites others to join this mission as Community Leaders. Would you like to be kaitiaki and live in one of the houses? Support those who run them? Provide meals or teach others to cook and budget? Tutor or mentor as a ‘big brother or big sister’? Sponsor a young person?
To find out more, email info@challenge2000.org.nz or call Steve O’Connor on 021 192 7328.