Past projects
Kapa Haka
Ropu Kapa Haka – “Nga Rangatahi Kotahitanga”
The ropu met weekly and covered a wide range of Maori waiata and tikanga, from tititoria to mihimihi. The group was invited to do performances for various events.
The ropu was led by a 15 year old tutor for several months with support from a youth support worker and the project finished at the end of 2006.
Belly Dancing
A youth support worker ran belly dancing lessons for women in 2007. The participants learnt the basic moves and history of belly dance, along with Middle Eastern music and culture.
Coffee Project
A group of young women learned how to make coffee with a real café-style espresso machine at Espacio (Evolve’s activity space). They also learnt about where coffee comes from and how it is grown and traded around the world. The group served coffee and food to guests at two Refugee Week events held at Evolve.
African Youth Nights
Evolve’s African youth support workers ran weekly African Youth nights. Activities included education sessions, DVD nights, guest speakers, games, a learners licence course and much more. Some of the participants also had the opportunity to organise and run their own sessions with the support of Evolve staff - an example of this was a very successful cultural event with live entertainment and ethnic food during Refugee Week in June 2007.
African Youth and Police
Evolve ran a project in collaboration with the Wellington Community Law Centre and the Wellington Police.
Each of the organisations hosted one of three workshops which were designed to give African youth a better understanding of New Zealand law and to open the lines of communication between African youth and Police.
Activity and Social Group
A youth support worker ran an activity based social group for young people with experience of using mental health services. The group provided a forum for young people to meet others with similar experience of mental health issues and offered education, fun activities and time to hang out and chat.
Health promotion with a difference….
Evolve ran two drama projects in 2005 and 2006. Each project was based on a health related subject relevant to young people and two tutors from the Voice Arts Trust helped the groups to explore their subject using Arts Education, games, drama exercises, and various activities.
One project was developed into a drama piece which was performed in several locations including the Wellington Fringe Festival. The other group developed a short film.
Mother's Day Craft Gifts
A young person ran a session in the hang out space teaching others how to make special flowers from colourful pipecleaners, as well as cards to give to their mother on Mother's Day or for any other special occasion.
This was an example of a simple activity that can be initiated, planned and carried out by a young person for other young people. Evolve can provide the space and materials to run activities like this one and we welcome any young person who has an idea or skill they would like to share to get in touch with us and give it a go.
Pacifrica Dance Troupe
Question: what do you get when you cross a group of Africans, Pacific Islanders and people from other nationalities sharing with each other their culture and expressing it through dance?
Answer: a damn good multi-cultural poly group, called Pacifrica!
Mixing the old with the new, the contemporary with the traditional, from Samoan to Rarotongan, African to Cuban and Assyrian to Hip Hop, this poly group did it all.
A tutor/choreographer helped to shape the unique and up-tempo style of the diverse group.
The primary target group was youth aged 13-21 and who did not attend mainstream education, but it was open to anyone who wanted to join.
The group performed with the health road-show crew in November 2005 which also toured around a few Wellington Colleges; they performed alongside the comedy duo “The Laughing Samoans” and Pacifica Beats Winners for 2004 the “Bopsicle Boyz”.
Pool Comp
Evolve ran fortnightly pool competitions in the hang out space on Friday afternoons for several months. Anyone was welcome to join in or watch and the competition, which ran on a round-robin system. Light snacks were also provided and players competed for a variety of prizes, such as gift vouchers, t-shirts and chocolate bars.
The Gathering
Evolve provided a free shared lunch for young people in the hang out space once a fortnight on Friday afternoons (alternating with the Pool Comp).
Staff members, with the help of a few volunteers, took turns to plan and bring along a meal or ingredients and everyone helped to prepare it before sharing the meal together in the hang out space.
Jewellery Making
Our Social Worker ran regular jewellery making sessions for young people in the hang out space. Everyone was welcome to join in and give it a go and participants learned how to make a variety of jewellery such as earings and other beaded items, which they were allowed to keep or give to someone as a gift.
Yoga
In 2009 Evolve offered free yoga classes based on the 'Astanga' system of Yoga; a dynamic, flowing style of Yoga that is popular with athletes and is suitable for all levels, including 1st timers.
Yoga originated in India and is a transformative practice that has positive effects on mood, health and fitness, and is thousands of years old and lots of fun.
Kickboxing
From 2006 to 2010 Evolve ran free Muay Thai kickboxing classes. During this time there were several different groups, including beginners, advanced, women and Assyrian classes. Some kickboxers even went on to compete in the ring at local tournaments.
The sessions combined physical exercise, discipline and technique development, with teachings around the philosophies behind Muay-Thai and martial arts.