Sione and Dorothy

Youth & Children

When Sione and Dorothy’s children took part in a Salvation Army youth programme, little did their parents know it was going to be their ticket out of poor housing and a gang-dominated part of Auckland.

The family were living in difficult circumstances in an old damp house and were having trouble feeding their children. Dorothy says police looking for gang members were frequent visitors to the area. After their children joined a Salvation Army youth programme, however, a Salvation Army staff member got to know them and their plight.

The Salvation Army took up their case and they were able to get a new Housing NZ house in a safer part of town. The family didn’t have a vehicle, so The Salvation Army helped them move what little they had and gave them a couch as well.

The family still struggles to make ends meet. Father Sione is in casual work and some weeks there isn’t enough income to cover expenses like food. The Salvation Army has provided food parcels to help in these tough times.

Children Daphne and Tevita are now in the Salvation Army Youth Leadership Programme which works to remove barriers in their lives and helps them to make a positive impact in their communities. They cover topics such as goal setting, career preparation, decision making, and conflict resolution.

Daphne says the programme, which she started in July, is fun and cool. A recent activity was rock climbing, which was all about building trust in other people. Daphne particularly enjoyed a seminar where she got to hear from positive role models.

Says Dorothy: ‘It’s good to be out of that gang environment - family life is more settled now.’ She says that if it wasn’t for The Salvation Army’s help, the family wouldn’t be where they are now.