Following the success of its January launch, the Storm Waka Program is set to return this April for the school holidays—this time in the Hume region.
The upcoming April program will run across two weeks, with sessions scheduled as follows:
Week 1 of the program will run for 12-14 year olds from April 7-9
Week 2 of the program will run for 15-17 year olds from April 16-18
In January, the Storm Waka Program welcomed 53 young participants, ages 10-18, each day for three days at Casey Warriors Rugby League Club.
The program featured a Māori haka workshop led by local organisation Nga Matai Purua, a traditional Samoan song-learning session, daily meals provided by Pasifika catering organisations, and rugby league skills and games.
“The program in Casey was a huge success, with three days of fantastic workshops and activities, encouraging participants to engage with Māori and Pacific Island culture, learn new skills and focus on important themes such as resilience, leadership, empathy and identifying their values.” said Storm Head of Community Oscar Anderson.
“We’re excited to be able to build on that success from January and take the Storm Waka program to the north-east this month.”
Supported by the Victorian Government Department of Education and partner with Centre of Multicultural Youth (CMY) and the Le Mana Pasifika Project Melbourne Storm's new school holiday initiative 'Storm Waka', is designed to support young people from Māori and Pasifika backgrounds across Melbourne.
The Storm Waka program will include the following:
- Workshops focusing on the development of important life skills such as resilience, leadership, empathy and identifying values. These activities have been adapted from the NRL’s highly successful ‘In League In Harmony’ program.
- Connection and celebration workshops, focusing on a variety of Pasifika cultures, working in conjunction with local Pasifika community organisations.
- Ice-breaker and youth-based games and activities centred around fun and engagement, including rugby league drills and skills.
Stay tuned for more information about how young people can register for future programs.
