ADRA New Zealand

Lisette is autistic and when she began working at ADRA New Start Gardens she was very slow and would not talk to anyone. At times she would disappear for a few hours. She has worked with the project for nearly two years. Initially sent to us through U-Turn Community Training Services for practical experience she was more recently sponsored by Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ).

She completes her six month contract this week with her Horticulture Level 2 and most of her Agriculture Level 2 completed. She has really surprised the staff and her family with the confidence she has gained and aims to continue a career in horticulture.

Keith is deaf. After completing his education at a school for the deaf he was turned down everywhere he tried for employment for safety reasons. He had expressed an interest in Horticulture and his mother rang ADRA. It was decided to take him on trial for one day a week. He has worked the whole four day week ever since. WINZ agreed to sponsor him, he now has experience to put on a CV and the other employees have improved their sign language skills!

ADRA New Plymouth- New Start Gardens employ eight youth at a time who work in the vegetable gardens located on the eight hectare property owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in New Plymouth. They also do gardening work for local residents. At the same time they receive training in nationally recognized Horticulture units and learn work ethics. The project is run by a church elected committee. It employs two full time supervisors and a part-time administrator.

Most employees are recommended to ADRA by the local WINZ unemployment office and are often long-term unemployed and unmotivated. WINZ subsidise their wages on a six month contract. Employees are assisted with writing CV’s and applying for jobs. Approximately 80% of them go on to further paid employment.

The Soup Kitchen is another branch of the project staffed by volunteers who collect surplus food from local supermarkets, bakeries and fruit and vegetable wholesalers which is then bagged and given out on regularly rotated routes in the more underprivileged communities I the city. Surplus vegetables from New Start Gardens are also included in these parcels and in winter the vegetables are made into soup and given out along with the baking.

Sometimes other skills are able to be fostered within the project, and these are then able to be added to CV’s when they leave. Jeremy had good technical drawing skills and was able to do the plans required for a funding application for major earthworks and relocation of glass houses. Jenna is an artist and has painted some lovely murals to enhance the small shop recently started up to sell surplus produce and plants. “Before this I was unemployed because of the fact I did not like working”. “I have picked up life changing skills”. “It has been a completely positive experience. I am really going to miss this place a lot.” These are just a few comments from past employees that help us believe that in some small way this project is making a difference.