Addressing isolation in Auckland city centre
‘Bringing together diverse communities promotes social cohesion & community harmony. Social cohesion is evident when ethnic people have a sense of belonging and participation, and communities are inclusive and value diversity.’
Background
Isolation has been identified as an issue in Auckland city centre, with senior Chinese, stay-at-home-parents of under 5’s, and students being particularly affected.
The purpose of this project is to build social cohesion between ethnic and ‘host’ communities, so everyone has a sense of belonging and can participate in building a neighbourhood that is inclusive and values diversity.
Projects delivered by Splice to address isolation in Auckland City Centre
Families in the City / Parents of under-5’s
(Also visit - www.meetup.com/parents-of-under-5s-in-Auckland-City/)
- Healthy activity groups provide a vehicle for parents of all ethnicities and their children to connect and build supportive friendships.
Current activities:
- Yoga play-group – a cross-cultural group allowing mothers to take time for themselves while children are safe and in view.
- Young City Explorers – caregivers and pre-schoolers playgroup using the outdoors.
- Co-manage an on-line ‘Meet-ups for Parents of under 5’ site where parents can find details about activities in the city.
- Collaboration with Plunket to promote and support their playgroups.
- Collaborative relationship with the City Library to enable connections and mutually share information around activities for under 5’s.
- Personal connections made with parents in parks and on the streets provides information, builds trust and makes them feel welcome to groups.
- A whatsapp group has been set up to encourage parents to stay in touch with each other and make their own ‘play-dates’
- Link with Freeman’s Bay School to assess needs of children living in the city.
Senior Migrants:
Connecting with the migrant community:
- Due to the challenges in accessing apartments to provide information, Splice connects with people on city streets, parks, at the central library and through other organisations.
· We-chat group, ‘City Neighbours’ was set up with the assistance of a Chinese community member. This is a major communication tool for Chinese so enables Splice to connect with a large (and growing) number of city centre Chinese.
Tea, Talk and Culture Exchange.
- This group provides opportunities for senior migrants to connect, socialise and feel supported, confident and ‘at home’ in the community.
- Introduces and supports basic English through informal teaching and conversation with local residents and various activities e.g. music, cooking.
Other cross-cultural activities:
· ‘Kiwi Xmas dinner: 2016. A shared Christmas dinner for Chinese families and Splice staff, using interpreters to explain Christmas traditions.
· Food Share & Story Telling: 2017. A designed informal consultation to assess the needs of city centre Chinese seniors in a non-threatening environment.
· YMCA experience: Senior group visit to YMCA and participation in ‘Never2old’ programme, as a start to becoming more aware of, and involved in, community opportunities.
· Dumpling making both within the group and working with rough sleepers and newly housed.
· Splice supports ACPC (Auckland Chinese Presbyterian Church) ‘Tea Time’ programme with regular assistance with language.
Students in the City Centre:
· 2017: Connected with AUT (Auckland University of Technology) encouraging ESOL trainees to gain experience by providing English support within seniors group.
· EDENZ College: 2018: Collaborating to establish a students’ ‘drop in’ afternoon at Ellen Melville Centre.
Other regular Splice activities that connect people:
An inclusive, fun community choir, which practices weekly and performs at various events.
Auckland CBD Life Drawing Group: A popular weekly group bringing a diverse group together to share their interest in art and drawing.
