Tāmaki Community Development Trust - Sirikit Diaz

Tāmaki Community Development Trust is a social support service for whānau and community. This service includes: advocacy, long-term mentoring, specialised counselling for children, life-skills development and parenting support, enabling families to be self-determining and aspirational. Their service delivery is culturally appropriate and effective. Established in September 1995, the Trust works with families and children in the communities of Pt England, Panmure and Glen Innes. Their vision is to see a community of people who are educated, employed, empowered and reaching their potential.

Siri is the Kaitāutoko Mahi - Support Worker for TCDT, and has been working with families for over 30 years. She loves being in the community, working alongside families, and supporting young women.

Siri's involvement with HEART is as much or as little as she can. Siri loves that as a Change Agent, she gets to choose how involved she can be. The last four years of study has taken away a lot of her brain power so now with all the spare time she has, Siri enjoys the free training HEART provides to whānau, and to her as a leader in the community. She loves how providing a safe space is important to HEART.

Siri values time spent with Peter Thorburn and would like to see more of his work spread far and wide in the community. She expresses how Peter’s whakaaro, lived experiences, and solutions on issues that affect the community are valuable, educational, insightful, and connects deeply with the community.

Fun fact: Siri loves a good laugh especially with her moko’s. When her mokos visit, the first five minutes is potty talk time and it’s always the best laugh!

Words of advice: “Don’t go at it alone, wherever or whatever situation you’re experiencing, reach out for friendship, help, or sisterhood, that can be in the eyes of Monday Boost, Women’s and also through the Men's Koru Group. The Koru Group is part of the HEART Movement. Be brave and be trusting, but also be willing and ready for change.”

Click through to the website for Tāmaki Community Development Trust for more information on this Partner Organisation of the HEART Movement.