What makes ‘Pockets of Hope’ so successful?
We asked Community Change Agent (and regular Pockets of Hope attendee) Tara Moala for her thoughts on what keeps people showing up each week for the community dinners.
“I've been going to the community dinners since they began at the Ruapotaka Marae. I take all three children and meet up with all of the other regulars that come every week. I enjoy catching up with them and seeing how their week has been and I also enjoy welcoming newcomers to the dinner - sometimes they become regulars as well and sometimes they're more sporadic and come once in a while.
I feel that the dinners are very successful in engaging with the community. I want my kids to grow up with a strong sense of community. And this is what Pockets of Hope really achieves for our Whānau. Our kids enjoy connecting with the other kids that come and they engage with so many different types of other families.
When the dinners first started, some of the men especially would come in with hoods and sunglasses on. They would almost act like they weren't allowed there. But over the months, they have really relaxed. Now when I see them around GI, they greet me the same way, with no inhibitions. We greet each other like friends.
The best word that I can think of to describe the conversations we have over dinner is random. Sometimes, we gather as leaders in the community. Talking about the true meaning of collaboration and agreeing to commit to working on specific projects together. Often, I realize that other mums watch me and my children interact. I've had many a kōrero with mums and nans about kids and different ways of figuring things out with them. We don't use flash words like consequences, boundaries, or incentives, but we do talk around those things.
I think it's pretty tough to be able to say exactly what makes Pockets of Hope successful. It's relationship building, it's role modeling, it's warm community space creating, it’s gentle challenging, it's connection making. It's unique. And we love it.” - Tara Moala