275 Times February 2018

If you have a passion
for contributing to the
regeneration of your
community, and would
like to share the Talking
Rubbish message with
your friends, family,
community group, school
or workplace, we’d love
to hear from you.
Justine Skilling
Talking Rubbish,
ME Family Services
We’re planning to offer some
training sessions this year where
we’ll provide resources and ongoing
support for anyone that wants to
become a Talking Rubbish volunteer
in their own setting. Everyone’s
contribution is valued and welcomed.
In volunteering with us, you’ll
gain useful skills and experience,
become part of a network of waste
and sustainability champions, see
positive changes in your community
and have access to all the resources
and support of the wider ME Family
Services family. Long-standing
Talking Rubbish volunteer Toha
Wade says she loves the interaction
she gets with people through her
volunteer work. “I get a buzz out
of teaching kids how to separate
waste, and seeing them doing the
right thing and then showing their
friends how to do it as well”. Toha is
grateful for what she’s learnt about
reducing waste herself and feels
she’s gained more confidence.
To find out more about the work
we do, or to register your interest
in taking part in our training and
becoming a Talking Rubbish
volunteer, please check out our
facebook page (www.facebook.com/
wastechamps/) or website (www.
mefsc.org.nz/what-we-do/talkingrubbish/),
and get in touch with us at
justine@mefsc.org.nz/ 0221028195.
WHO WE ARE
Four years ago the ME Family
Services added Talking Rubbish
to its team of social workers, Early
Childhood Centre and Men’s Shed.
We’ve connected with hundreds
of local groups, organisations and
Māngere/Ōtāhuhu residents, finding
plenty of waste champions and
sharing practical ideas for reducing
waste in our homes, workplaces,
churches and community. Through
our work, we aim to reconnect
people with the cultural wisdom
and about how to live in harmony
with nature. It’s been exciting to
see people rediscovering what
it’s like to grow their own food,
make, repair and upcycle, and to
revalue the skills their parents and
WE
NEED
YOU
Above: Justine Skilling (left) and Koia Teinakore, Waste Minimisation Facilitators.
grandparents took for granted.
Māngere is a big place. At the
last census count, there were
over 70,000 people living in our
local board area. 43% were born
overseas. With the growing interest
in finding ways to reduce waste in
our community, Talking Rubbish
is looking to find ways to connect
with a diverse audience and to see
our vision of a “zero waste Māngere/
Ōtāhuhu” become a reality.
Justine Skilling
Talking Rubbish, ME Family Services
TALKING
RUBBISH
BUILDING
OUR LEGACY
ENROL
NOW
free PARENTING PROGRAMMES
Hoki ki te Rito
O – ranga wha _ nau Mellow Mums & Dads
Mellow Bumps
Antenatal sessions
Incredible Years
For Parents
Day & evening programmes start this month (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