The Rotary Club of Papakura (and a few from RC Manurewa-Takannini) were privileged to enjoy a vocational visit to Mana Inc on Thursday, 26th, witnessing first-hand the powerful and inspiring work they are doing with teenage youth in our community. The session was a heartfelt reminder of what’s possible when young people are given a safe, connected space to open up and discover their best selves.
Mana Inc operates on a powerful trilogy of values: INSPIRE, ENHANCE, and EMPOWER. They are dedicated to supporting referred youth by addressing needs in literacy, numeracy, and vocational skills. Crucially, they achieve this by providing an environment that values every person for who they are. This deep respect allows the youth to feel embraced, encouraging them to be inspired and grow. As we all wish for our young people, Mana Inc aims for them to be the best versions of themselves, enabling them to enhance and flourish in every aspect of their lives, and in turn, empower them to encourage and inspire those around them.
We saw and heard about learning in action, where practical skills are seamlessly integrated with personal growth. Muna beautifully touched on the essential wellbeing aspects of their approach. Mana Inc is truly walking the walk as well as talking the talk, ensuring the youth gain invaluable, hands-on experiences. This includes everything from adventurous visits to the beach for new sensory experiences—wading through the muddy shoreline to reach the water—to learning about the origin of food by growing vegetables, keeping chickens, and collecting eggs. They also engage in projects like making fishing nets, which cleverly incorporates mathematical and construction skills. We admired the robust furniture they have built, a tangible result of combining numeracy and vocational construction skills. The youth also create meaningful artwork that reflects their own personal stories and cultural histories. Being part of the Mana Inc whānau also means learning essential life skills and community participation, such as doing dishes, mowing lawns, and keeping their shared space clean and tidy. As part of our experience, we even enjoyed a warming cup of fresh KawaKawa Tea with honey.
Kelly, a key leader at Mana Inc, clearly outlined the six core Pou (pillars) that guide their holistic approach:
Mana Régia : Focusing on identity, leadership, and authority.
Mana Tū Prioritising holistic wellbeing, both physical and mental.
Mana Toi: Centred on inspiring others and passing on knowledge to the next generation.
Mana Tec: Dedicated to growing creative and innovative leaders by developing future-focused skills and knowledge.
Mana Reo: Building deeper connections through culture, family, identity, and their future aspirations.
Mana Ora: Reconnecting with traditional wellbeing practices to support health in the modern world.
Kelly and Muna also highlighted the many similarities that Mana Inc and Rotary share. The vital work Mana Inc does—encompassing education, health, and community connection—touches many of the same aspects as Rotary's Areas of Focus.
The visit left our members deeply impressed by the dedication of the Mana Inc team. Their commitment to building a brighter future for Papakura's youth, brick by experiential brick, is truly commendable. They are a powerful force for good, ensuring that our young people have the tools, environment, and inspiration they need to succeed. Rotary Papakura looks forward to supporting their work in any way we can.
https://www.manaincorporated.co.nz/
#RotaryPapakura #ManaInc #YouthDevelopment #EmpoweringYouth #PapakuraCommunity #InspireEnhanceEmpower #WellbeingMatters
