Description

Project Aroha supported by the Waka Hourua Fund is a response to bullying, alienation and suicide risk to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) communities in Aotearoa. Provided by the Mika Haka Foundation, The Project Aroha involves a series of transmedia, multimedia projects over 2015 to reach out, innovate and create discussion amongst Māori and Pacific youth to tackle suicide issues.

Project Aroha is delivered in three parts:

Web series multimedia project; online viewing, sharing, using social media channels and You Tube pushed from a dedicated wed site.

Live events; direct compelling invitations to youth to engage with the multimedia project.

Community responses; Places for young people to go to for special information help and safety.

Managing diversity has been a core operation of the Mika Haka Foundation since its inception 2008. The Foundation recognizes that sexuality for many young people is experimental, and questioning is mixed with body issues and stigmas. Its work invites young people to explore possibilities towards a secure identity, with good self-care and self-esteem. While LGBTQ youth increasingly have confidence to be out and about, the number of LGBTQ related suicides and entrenched bullying continues.

Te Kīwai Rangahau, Te Rau Matatini evaluation team was commissioned to undertake a review of the Waka Hourua Fund. The focus of this specific review therefore was to assess and to determine how the Mika Haka Programme implementation aligns to the overall intent and design of the Waka Hourua programme, and what actually happened during its implementation.