On Friday 30 August 2024, rangatahi from the Ringa Raupa programme, their friends and whānau, gathered at Whakatōhea offices to receive their certificates from Ōpōtiki Mayor, David Moore. The Mayor recognised their mahi and achievements in the programme.
The Ringa Raupa programme is the shared work of many organisations: Te Pou Oranga o Whakatōhea, Ōpōtiki College, Ōpōtiki District Council, the Ministry of Social Development, Kāinga Ora, Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, BCITO, Ministry of Education, Bay of Plenty Futures Academy, and Bay Trust. These organisations work together to provide a pre-apprenticeship training course and a worksite at Ōpōtiki College.
This course is aimed at unemployed rangatahi from the Eastern Bay of Plenty, providing them with qualifications, skills and work experience so they are ready to join the building trade as apprentices.
“This programme is thirty weeks long, so the certificate marks a significant milestone for these young people and I hope they are proud of their achievement. It was special to acknowledge how much work they have put into the programme and share that milestone with them.
“I also want to acknowledge the mahi of the team who run these courses, the support they give the rangatahi and the work they do to forge connections into the community and industry. It is so valued and valuable,” Mayor Moore said.
If you know more about the Ringa Raupa course as an employer or to joint he thirty week programme you can find out more online on Council’s Workforce Matters page.
