ADRA is a great believer in purposeful partnerships!
All initiatives we run here in New Zealand are built around partnerships. Through our Community Transformation Partnership initiatives, we work alongside the Seventh-day Adventist Union and Conferences, Churches, and various community organisations, to utilise our collective strength and meet the needs of our local communities.
The Ōtara Kai Village is just one of the amazing initiatives ADRA has been able to support that reflects the strength of community partnerships. This initiative is led by residents of Ōtara and their purpose is to provide healthy food and a space for people to connect, improving the well-being of their community.
The Ōtara Kai Village is a prime model of purposeful partnerships. Partnerships with local residents and various community and corporate organisations have helped them maximise funding and resources. Over the last year, through partnerships, they have been able to turn old shipping containers and an under-utilised area at the Ōtara Shopping Centre into a thriving community space.
Hundreds of community members have now been supported through the Ōtara Kai Village which continues to provide healthy food options for the community, free kai packs, and celebrates the various language weeks. The Ōtara Kai Village also now boasts a boutique gift store of local artists/designers, a café, a bike burb, Pātaka Kai free Community Pantry, and an info and advocacy kiosk. Each addition to the village adds more value for the community and is only made possible through purposeful partnerships. ADRA has been able to provide funding to the Ōtara Kai Village along with food and other materials which have been used to help the community.
During lock-downs, the Ōtara Kai Village activate their COVID-19 response team, who pack and deliver food packs to vulnerable individuals and families in their community. Drive through pick-ups for food packs are also offered following the appropriate COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.
Ōtara Kai Village founder, Swanie Nelson, and her team have done an incredible job in creating a beautiful space that connects and supports the local community. With a strong volunteer base, along with wonderful leadership mentoring, they help to utilise and develop the skills of all involved.
If you have a dream for your community, we want to partner with you! If you’re already involved in a community project, I encourage you to keep looking for purposeful partnerships that can help further make an impact.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.” Ecclesiastes 4:9
By Sally Lavea, Programme Manager
If you’re interested in running an initiative that meets the needs of your community, click here to learn how we can partner together to make a difference.
