Community trust helps South Auckland youth build careers in construction
“If you’re from South Auckland and you’re a young person, you have all the opportunities that this airport offers,” – Sarah Redmond, ARA General Manager.
South Auckland youth are gaining hands-on skills and career opportunities through the Ara Education Charitable Trust construction programme.
The 12-week training programme, based in South Auckland, serves as a bridge between rangatahi and employment.
For General Manager Sarah Redmond, it’s about growing long-term opportunities and building a sustainable future for local youth.
“One, it’s getting people off roads so that they’re not, you know, driving right across town to come here,” she says.
“Two, upskilling local people to very specific roles here and people have got a vision where you could come out here as a school leaver and have a really interesting and varied career.”
Ara works closely with several South Auckland secondary schools, with the inclusion of Auckland Girls Grammar (AGGS). Redmond says this inclusion is because a significant number of South Auckland girls attend AGGS.
“We are just trying to expose our young people to as many opportunities and options as possible,” she says.
“This is such a changing and dynamic place that every year something is different.”
Through the programme, students gain key certifications including Site Safe, First Aid and Level 2 Building, Construction and Allied Trades Skills (BCAT).
They also have access to counselling and wellbeing services to help them maintain a healthy balance between their studies, home life, personal wellbeing and paid work – particularly for those supporting their families.
For Head Tutor and Project Manager William Malachi, balance is everything.
“It just breaks my heart when they’re tired… they finish work at 4 in the morning and come to school, so you know that’s really challenging to me,” William says.
“It’s a young fella you know… [they go] through that step of being an islander… but I just keep telling them, you just got to manage yourself and you know, take some time to rest.”
Beyond construction, the programme has a strong emphasis on sustainability, with students learning how to repurpose and reconstruct materials from old homes to reduce waste going into landfills.
According to the Ministry for the Environment, construction and demolition waste makes up nearly 70% of all waste sent to levied landfills. One of the goals at Ara is to reduce this amount.
“We use a lot of this product here to put it back into the houses because I mean, you know, most of them are treated and we can use it for nogging, floor choice, you know, even plywood, the patching up floors and stuff,” Malachi says.
“We need to teach the next generation that you know, it’s okay to reuse and repurpose, especially these old houses. You don’t need to go and buy new, new stuff all the time.”
That belief in restoration and value runs through the programme, and it’s shaped the success of past students like Marcus Malo.
Marcus joined the programme in 2022 through Mangere College, and he is currently studying at MIT while being employed under Ara.
“For him to pass his qualification is to get work experience with a company, so he came back here and asked me, sir, can I come back and help out? So, I let him,” William says.
“I’ve decided to help this young man to build his future [because] he’s quite a good team player, especially for the young ones coming through.”
For Marcus, being at Ara and working under William has been life changing.
“I have much more respect and self-control [since] being with Willie for like three years now,” Marcus says.
“I am so glad that I stayed with him ‘cause been getting out of trouble.”
“What inspired me was just looking at all my friends. Just a bit of a struggle for us ‘cause like we always muck around and stuff, and then I see the other kids doing good, and so when I look at them, that’s when I wanted to like, lock in and do more.”
Marcus’ journey highlights the potential Ara sees in its students, and he’s far from being the only one. Facilitator Marie Collins recalls a 16-year-old girl who hadn’t been to school for two years, but managed to complete the course as well as gain an apprenticeship with Brian Perry.
“It’s just stories like that that makes it worthwhile,” she says.
“I would love the opportunity for more of these types of programmes to grow so that we could also look at other industries, giving them the opportunity there.”
Looking ahead, Redmond says the vision for the trust is rooted in long-term impact.
“If you’re from South Auckland and you’re a young person, you have all the opportunities that this airport offers,” she says. “Not only are the opportunities there, but you’re assisted to see them, to find them, to access them.”
*Quotes have been slightly edited for clarity.
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