JAN PIAHANA
KOOTUITUI KI PAPAKURA
Ngātiwai, Ngāti Rehua
Jan Piahana has worked in Local and Central Government for the past 34 years in community development roles, building her working knowledge of grassroots development. She has strong and sustained community networks in Papakura and South Auckland.
She was employed as the Kootuitui Whaanau Engagement Facilitator in July 2016 when she was introduced by The Southern Initiative to the co design methodology. Jan has had the privilege of bringing together a passionate roopu of whaanau to lead the co-design approach for Kootuitui ki Papakura in its Homes strand, thereby creating innovative solutions to engage whaanau to build their capacity to help themselves and their families.
Changing lives - one whānau at a time
Whakawhitiwhiti Kōrero
Tuesday 19 November
11.30am
A unique peer-to-peer empowerment model is engaging whaanau in Papakura in a very pragmatic way while delivering positive social outcomes. Workshops are offered which teach whaanau how to improve their housing conditions, take charge of their finances and how to participate in their children’s digital learning.
Through this whaanau-led approach, Kootuitui Whaanau members are experiencing social connectedness, creating enduring supportive relationships and friendships, and generating ideas and opportunities. They are growing their self-confidence and capability with some gaining employment.