Whanake Youth is a Nelson-based not-for-profit that helps rangatahi (ages 12 to 24) thrive. Their free services include school-based health clinics, social work, after-school drop-ins, a youth-run coffee cart, and camps co-designed with young people.
Over the recent school holidays, six Whanake nurses travelled to All Saints Anglican School in Apia, Samoa, to listen, learn, and offer health checks alongside teachers and aiga.
I spoke with Whanake CE Lee-ann O’Brien about the trip. Lee-ann is a member of Christ Church Cathedral Nelson and is the wife of Rev Dr Graham O’Brien. She has been involved in youth work in the Nelson Diocese and throughout Te Tau Ihu for over 20 years.
Lee-ann: We’ve been serving young people for eight years, offering free health and wellbeing services. That includes school clinics, social work, and our drop-in youth space. We also run a coffee cart where rangatahi can learn barista skills, build confidence, and connect with positive role models. Most of what we do is co-designed with young people.
Lee-ann: We’re based in Stoke but support schools across Nelson and Tasman, including Motueka High, Rai Valley, Tapawera and Murchison. We also run a weekly free clinic at HQ for young people who prefer to see a nurse outside school.
Lee-ann: We met Rachel Solomon, principal of All Saints Anglican School in Apia, during a church hui last year. She shared concerns about students with possible learning and developmental needs but limited services. After discussions and sorting nursing registration, we agreed to visit for two weeks to listen and assess needs.
Lee-ann: Six nurses saw over 200 children, from preschool to Year 8. We started days with school Zumba, then ran health checks such as vision, hearing, skin, oral health, lice, and chronic conditions, and taught hand-washing and tooth-brushing. With older students we added sessions on puberty, consent, and safety. We also ran a clinic for teachers and worked with the school on practical systems.
Lee-ann: The biggest concern was oral health. Nearly half of preschoolers had severe tooth decay, and many older students had ongoing problems. Another surprise was how many children had severe earwax buildup, likely causing hearing difficulties that looked like learning problems. We also saw probable cases of epilepsy, type 2 diabetes, rheumatic illness, and developmental delays. Access to specialist care is very limited, so many conditions remain untreated.
Lee-ann: We don’t want to just visit and leave. Our next step is capacity-building, training Samoan nurses in school-based health checks and simple, sustainable processes. We’ll also look at cultural approaches to skin health and support for families around psychosocial issues.
Lee-ann: It stretched us, but it also bonded us. Conditions were basic, but the welcome was warm and the purpose was clear. We came home grateful and committed to continuing this partnership.
Lee-ann: By staying connected and praying for our team and the young people we serve, both here and in Samoa. Locally, people can support by volunteering in our after-school drop-in, helping at events, or simply encouraging the staff. A kind word, prayer, or even a box of chocolates goes a long way in letting the team know their mahi matters.
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We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
Whanake Youth is a Nelson-based not-for-profit that helps rangatahi (ages 12 to 24) thrive. Their free services include school-based health clinics, social work, after-school drop-ins, a youth-run coffee cart, and camps co-designed with young people.
Over the recent school holidays, six Whanake nurses travelled to All Saints Anglican School in Apia, Samoa, to listen, learn, and offer health checks alongside teachers and aiga.
I spoke with Whanake CE Lee-ann O’Brien about the trip. Lee-ann is a member of Christ Church Cathedral Nelson and is the wife of Rev Dr Graham O’Brien. She has been involved in youth work in the Nelson Diocese and throughout Te Tau Ihu for over 20 years.
Lee-ann: We’ve been serving young people for eight years, offering free health and wellbeing services. That includes school clinics, social work, and our drop-in youth space. We also run a coffee cart where rangatahi can learn barista skills, build confidence, and connect with positive role models. Most of what we do is co-designed with young people.
Lee-ann: We’re based in Stoke but support schools across Nelson and Tasman, including Motueka High, Rai Valley, Tapawera and Murchison. We also run a weekly free clinic at HQ for young people who prefer to see a nurse outside school.
Lee-ann: We met Rachel Solomon, principal of All Saints Anglican School in Apia, during a church hui last year. She shared concerns about students with possible learning and developmental needs but limited services. After discussions and sorting nursing registration, we agreed to visit for two weeks to listen and assess needs.
Lee-ann: Six nurses saw over 200 children, from preschool to Year 8. We started days with school Zumba, then ran health checks such as vision, hearing, skin, oral health, lice, and chronic conditions, and taught hand-washing and tooth-brushing. With older students we added sessions on puberty, consent, and safety. We also ran a clinic for teachers and worked with the school on practical systems.
Lee-ann: The biggest concern was oral health. Nearly half of preschoolers had severe tooth decay, and many older students had ongoing problems. Another surprise was how many children had severe earwax buildup, likely causing hearing difficulties that looked like learning problems. We also saw probable cases of epilepsy, type 2 diabetes, rheumatic illness, and developmental delays. Access to specialist care is very limited, so many conditions remain untreated.
Lee-ann: We don’t want to just visit and leave. Our next step is capacity-building, training Samoan nurses in school-based health checks and simple, sustainable processes. We’ll also look at cultural approaches to skin health and support for families around psychosocial issues.
Lee-ann: It stretched us, but it also bonded us. Conditions were basic, but the welcome was warm and the purpose was clear. We came home grateful and committed to continuing this partnership.
Lee-ann: By staying connected and praying for our team and the young people we serve, both here and in Samoa. Locally, people can support by volunteering in our after-school drop-in, helping at events, or simply encouraging the staff. A kind word, prayer, or even a box of chocolates goes a long way in letting the team know their mahi matters.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
