Alternative Education
Kelsey Matafeao
Kelsey Matafeao was the first student of the Athens Education Centre Alternative Education program in 2014. After unsuccessful engagement in mainstream schooling and other educational programs, Kelsey entered the Alternative Education program not knowing what to expect. However she soon flourished and by the end of the year Kelsey had completed and gained the compulsory credits at NCEA level 1 literacy and numeracy and also in Vocational Pathways. Kelsey has gone on to complete a level 2 certificate in Fitness and Rec and is currently enrolled to do the Diploma program in Community Work at Unitec.
“Entering Athens Education Centre was a life changing moment in my life. I have grown and learned so much from John and the tutors at Athens that I have become a better person. I apply their teaching to my everyday life as well as my educational goals”.
Kieran Hudson
Due to some bad choices Kieran was moved from South to West Auckland where Kieran entered the Athens Education Centre’s Alternative Education program. Kieran really thrived in a learning environment that was welcoming and safe and by the time he left the program Kieran had achieved various NCEA level 1 credits as well as the compulsory level 1 credits in literacy and numeracy. Kieran has successfully gone on to tertiary study and is currently working full time and is looking after his Nan.
“Athens is like a family to me they took me in showed a lot of love and helped to see what was important in my life especially my education. John, Fil and all the tutors have done so much for us that one day I hope to repay the love they have shown me by giving to other young people. I am leaving Athens definitely a better person then when I entered because they never gave up on me.”
Latrael Witute
Due to some bad choices and involvement with the law enforcement, Latrael was referred to the Athens Education Alternative Education Program. Although it was initially difficult for him to settle into an intensive learning environment, however once he did, Latrael thrived to a point where he became a role model to other students as well as to his sister Irini who was also in the program. Despite the doubting views of some professionals outside of Athens Alternative Education by the time he exited the program, Latrael had gained various credits at NCEA level 1 including the compulsory credits in literacy and numeracy. Latrael is now working full time and helping his parents to support his younger siblings.
“I loved my time at Athens and they didn’t judge me and they welcomed me and gave me an opportunity to achieve something with my education and get the NCEA credits which is what I have always wanted. I just needed to be in the right place with the right people around me like John and the tutors at Athens. They are like a family to me and my family and I owe them so much”
ASPIRE Transitions Program
Ryan
Ryan really struggled with the mainstream learning environment and came straight into the ASPIRE Transitions Program after his Intermediate schooling. Initially Ryan worked intensively on a one-on-one basis with ASPIRE tutor Maka focusing on key social and life-skills, this was really successful. This led to Ryan successfully completing the ASPIRE Transition program and gaining the key skills required to transition into a more intensive learning environment. Ryan has now transitioned successfully into the Athens Alternative Education Program where he has started to work towards the attainment of NCEA level 1.
Inspire2Activate Networks Programs
Ben Leilua
Ben Leilua was referred to Inspire2Activiate Mentoring and Talanoa Anger Management Programs requiring support to develop pro-social skills due to various issues that he was invlolved in during his time in mainstream schooling. Ben was paired up with one of our youth workers and over the 12 weeks they were able to develop goals and strategies to support Ben with the issues that were leading to his negative behaviour. Ben worked really hard on the goals and strategies that he and his youth worker developed and by the end of the 12 weeks, Ben had successfully completed his goals. With the support of his youth worker Ben successfully enrolled in the Athens Alternative Education program where he gained NCEA credits as well as the compulsory credits for level 1 numeracy and literacy. Whilst at Athens Ben successfully gained a full scholarship to one of Australia’s prestigeous rugby league shcools where he is currently studying and playing rugby league.
“I owe John, Fil and all the tutors, youth workers and mentors at Athens and Inspire2Activate a lot. They taught me the skills that allowed me to look at myself and recognise that I was really stupid with some of the choices I made. The mentoring, anger management and education programs at Athens gave me the skills to do better with my life by realising that I needed to focus on my education and league so that I can support my family in the future”.