One Woman’s Story – You’re never too old to learn
I live in Panmure and when I came here two years ago I didn’t know anyone. I am Samoan and most of my family live in Australia. I stay in New Zealand because my children and grandchildren are here. I got married when I was 18 years old and stopped my education to raise a family. For many years I was a wife, mum, cook, cleaner and scrub cutter. My children are now in their thirties and I have three grandchildren.
I heard about Te Waipuna Puawai from my neighbour across the road. Sister Marie had been door-knocking in our street and came over to visit me. When she told me about Te Waipuna Puawai courses, I had many thoughts and questions in my mind: ‘You’re too old to go back to school. Is this class going to laugh at me if I turn up?’ With encouragement from Te Waipuna Puawai staff, I enrolled in the Certificate of Foundation Studies through Manukau Institute of Technology. I wanted to learn something new and meet other women living in my community.
I don’t drive and had no way of getting to the Te Waipuna Puawai Centre but staff picked me up in the van so I could attend classes. The Centre is lovely place to visit and staff made a big effort to make us all feel at home there. Te Waipuna Puawai gave us free bread every Friday and helped with clothing, transport and childcare. They also helped with food when our money ran out. I couldn’t have done the certificate without the transport and other help along the way.
It can be lonely in community when you don’t know people and Te Waipuna Puawai helps women to build friendships with other women who live close by. The women in the class are like sisters; we help one another and share everything we can. We all get along and care for one another. Some of the women have big troubles at home but here we are one big family. I see women who come here working so hard to raise their children in a good way and I give them all credit for looking after their children while studying. I was one of the lucky ones; I didn’t have the troubles that some of the other women experienced such as family violence and abuse. Money is tight for everyone and the women who come here sacrifice themselves for their children. They are working hard to make a better life for their families.
Sometimes when I go to a government agency for help, I am treated in a way that leaves me feeling useless and that I have nothing to offer. I come away feeling stressed out. But at Te Waipuna Puawai staff have a different attitude; they respect us and work straight from the heart. Age is no barrier to them. Te Waipuna Puawai staff helped me to see possibilities that I didn’t see before; they encouraged me to keep learning. Because of Te Waipuna Puawai, I feel differently about my whole life. I feel that I have a lot more to offer my community and that there’s so much more to learn.
Every time I talk to someone in the community, I tell them about Te Waipuna Puawai. ‘The staff are like an open book,’ I say. ‘They’re here to help. They will encourage you and make you feel special. You make lots of friends at Te Waipuna Puawai. Everyone is like a big family. At the end of the day you go home feeling very happy. And you can’t wait for the next time you visit the Centre.’ I love this place so much that I now volunteer on Fridays at the Te Waipuna Puawai childcare centre.
It took me nearly a year to complete the six modules required for the Foundation Studies Certificate. I feel proud of my achievement; it took a huge sacrifice but it was worth it. I never missed a day at class unless I had something that I had to do. Here I make myself happy and feel myself moving forward. Being here is all for me and has become like a home to me. When I think about what I have achieved over the past year at Te Waipuna Puawai I feel very happy with myself. Every night I sit down and say, ’Thank you God.’
I’ve learned something and the learning won’t stop here. Everything in my future starts from here. Te Waipuna Puawai has been a key that opened the door to my life. My plan is to go to university. I am doing more courses now and want to become a social service worker. I remember telling my grandchildren that I was going back to school. ‘Why go back to school, Nan?’ they asked. ‘Aren’t you too old to study?’ ‘You’re never too old to go back to school,’ I replied. Just look at me now. I’ve gone from being a scrub cutter to earning a certificate. You’re never too old to learn. I won’t stop until I’m 100 years old!
I would like the government to use its money wisely and support Te Waipuna Puawai in the work it is doing in our community. I feel so sad when the government doesn’t support an organisation like Te Waipuna Puawai and I want them to come and see what is happening here. Te Waipuna Puawai is helping women most in need to achieve their dreams and get on with their lives.
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