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Aorere College Choir provides backing vocals for Lorde at the 2017 Vodafone Music Awards. (Photo: Topic/Hannah Rolfe – Courtesy of Pead PR) 6 Aorere Choir Takes the STAGE with Lorde By Shirl’e Fruean When my teenage daughter came home one afternoon – overly excited that popstar Lorde had picked her school choir to perform at this year’s Vodafone Music Awards – I got just as excited and amazed too. As a proud and supportive Māngere mother, I knew I had to be there. So I came up with a master plan and after a few phone calls, I managed to secure media passes for me and two of my talented friends (Gabriel Satiu from Māngere Art Centre and Benji Timu from Vlog). At the Awards’ ceremony I found my daughter backstage with the other Aorere College students. She was so surprised to see me – we couldn’t stop hugging each other. When the choir finally went on stage with Lorde to perform her single ‘Greenlight’, it was absolutely fantastic. As I watched the performance from the media room, I kept pointing at my daughter on the TV monitors. It sure was a ‘proud-mama’ moment! The day got even better when my crew and I got the chance to film a promo for the Hip Hop Summit I’ve been organising. It was brilliant because we managed to get everyone we wanted to make a special shout-out on the video. (See them all for yourself at www. nzhiphopsummit.com.) The whole event was such a cool experience – a dazzling night we will never forget. And it looks like Aorere’s performance impressed Lorde, too. After the show, she tweeted: “...a massive thank u to these gorgeous teen powerhouses from the Aorere College choir – have been a fan since i was at school & knew they would beautifully anchor this hometown performance of GL.”️
Clever 7’s sustainable business journey When Māngere College student Samir Ali signed up to take Business Studies in Year 13, he got more than he bargained for. By Justine Skilling Talking Rubbish, ME Family Services “Our teacher told us we were going to make and sell our own product and I thought, oh my gosh – what have I got myself into!” says Samir. Every year the College takes part in the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES), a hands-on programme where students set up and run a real business. Samir was quickly given the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) by his team mates, and the group set to work creating Clever 7. Sustainable vision With input from mentors Lucy Wymer (YES) and Peter Sykes (ME Family Services), the group decided to use recycled materials in their product, because of the “huge benefit to the environment.” They hit upon the idea of reusing waste tyres and contacted local company Moon Motors who were “delighted to give the tyres away.” Combining their love of animals with their desire to save the environment, Clever 7 decided to create Young entrepreneurs: Clever 7’s Te Aroha Houston (left) and Elizajane Mafileo with samples of their prize-winning pet beds. a pet bed out of the tyres, using old clothes as stuffing for the cushions. After raising $400 in startup funding by selling hot food at school, they started production at Samir’s place, A wobbly start “Our prototype was a fail,” admits Samir. “We tried to paint the tyres, but they looked horrible. The paint didn’t stick to the tyres properly and would’ve come off in the rain. “When we started working on our real product, we decided to use spray paint instead.” Clever 7 worked hard during the construction phase, fitting this around their other assessments and family commitments. “I wanted everyone to do what they could,” says Samir. “I didn’t want anyone to feel left out because it’s all about the experience. It was actually very fun.” The group put their technical skills to the test – washing, cutting and painting the tyres, as well as sewing and stuffing the cushions to go inside. Compliments & sales With nine pet beds to sell, the group created some buzz about their product on social media before heading to the Papatoetoe Night Market to ply their wares. “At first we were a bit shy, but once people came up and were complimenting us on our product we got more confident,” says Samir. “People were really amazed at what we’d done. They’d never seen tyres being made into pet beds before.” The group managed to sell six beds at the market, and the remaining three through the school, netting themselves a small profit. But the hard work wasn’t over. As part of YES, the group had 30 seconds to present their product to a panel of judges in Dragon’s Den style. “It was really scary,” says Samir. Award winners In recognition of their product’s outstanding contribution to the environment, Clever 7 took out the Excellence in Sustainability Award at the YES Auckland South Regional Awards. Their Business Studies teacher Savitri Nadan is “very proud of the group’s achievements.” She has seen their confidence grow and watched them develop skills in team work, budgeting, marketing, communication and leadership. A whole new world For Mentor Peter Sykes, the benefit of the YES programme is the in-depth learning students do about themselves in complex systems – balancing family and school life. “For many, a whole new world of small business is opened up – a cross cultural experience in itself,” he says. While none of the Clever 7 group will be rushing out to start their own businesses just yet, they’ve valued the experience and enjoyed having a taste of what’s involved. As Samir says, “If you have a passionate heart and a skilful mind, you can do anything you want in business”. ENROL NOW for 2018 free PARENTING PROGRAMMES Hoki ki te Rito O – ranga wha _ nau Mellow Mums & Dads Mellow Bumps Antenatal sessions Incredible Years For Parents Wh – anau 4Wh – anau Whakat – okia te Rongomau Day & evening programmes begin in February 2018 Ma _ ngere East Community Centre, 372 Massey Rd, Ma _ ngere East ph. 09 263 0798 | e. admin@ohomairangi.co.nz | www.ohomairangi.co.nz 7
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275 Times December 2017 - January 2018

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