ENCOURAGING PASIFIKA TEENAGE GIRLS TO ENJOY AND PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Encouraging Pasifika teenage girls to enjoy and participate in physical activity is the catalyst for the Equip’d programme, but it’s not the end goal.
Created by the Harbour Sport SportSPasifik team in 2013, the Equip’d programme came about in response to evidence suggesting low rates of participation in sport and active recreation and high rates of mental health concerns for young Pasifika women.
The school-based programme targets young Pasifika females. It offers weekly physical activity sessions that aim to use positive experiences in sport and recreation to engage students and increase confidence, overall wellbeing and leadership skills. Session content is co-designed with participants so as to best meet their needs and build on the strengths of that group.
Originally working with two secondary schools, Equip’d now works with three secondary schools and one intermediate on Auckland’s North Shore and expects to reach more than 200 students in 2018.
Important success factors for the programme have been:
- Identifying someone to champion the programme at each school
- Engaging programme facilitators who have empathy and cultural competency
- Co-designing sessions so they are more engaging and effective
- Acknowledging that parental values and expectations are highly influential for this target market.
