Starting the Year with Creativity: A Vision for the Future at I Love Avondale

What if the key to a successful year starts with a little creativity? Kayla, our Creative Director, kicked off the new year by empowering the next generation at I Love Avondale through the power of creativity and goal-setting. Leading a workshop for a group of Māori and Pacific tamariki aged 5-14, Kayla introduced a fun, hands-on way to help them visualise their dreams and set the stage for a year filled with possibility.

With a strong focus on the power of goal-setting, Kayla introduced the concept of vision boards and scrapbooking, encouraging the tamariki to reflect on the goals they wanted to achieve in the year ahead. The session offered more than just a chance to be creative—it became a platform for the young participants to express their hopes and aspirations, fostering a sense of purpose and excitement for the future.

Each child was provided with a scrapbook kit full of colourful cutouts, stickers, and inspiring quotes, allowing them to bring their dreams to life through art. The interactive and open space Kayla created allowed the tamariki to feel safe and supported as they shared their hopes and aspirations for the year ahead. It was an opportunity for the young ones to visualise their dreams and think about the steps they needed to take to reach them, reinforcing the importance of self-belief and planning.

The I Love Avondale tamariki showing off their vision boards!

Jess Beattie, the Patiki Hub Coordinator for Rosebank & Eastdale Hub, expressed how much the workshop impacted both the tamariki and the adults involved.

“We thoroughly enjoyed the workshop,” she shared, noting the bright colours and engaging atmosphere that filled the room. “We even took part ourselves! It was an all-ages activity that brought everyone together.”

Kayla’s workshop wasn’t just about arts and crafts—it was a celebration of creativity and the potential of the younger generation. By nurturing the skills of goal-setting and self-expression, the tamariki left the session feeling inspired, with tangible representations of their dreams and a renewed sense of hope for the future. Through creativity, they were empowered to start the year with purpose, confidence, and a clear vision of what they could achieve.