OUR STORY

Tuilaepa Youth Mentoring 
Services (TYMS) ​is a Pacific-led 
cultural and relationship-based
intervention service that provides
mentoring, advocacy and support for 
primarily Maori and Pacific youth, 
and their families.
Dale Rasmussen (General Manager) & Robson Tavita (Founder/Head of Advocacy)
Robson Tavita founded TYMS to address the need he saw in his community to support young people to get the education they needed to succeed. The "Tuilaepa" name is in honour of Robson's late father, Tuilaepa Ropisone Tavita, who dedicated this life to making sure his family grew up understanding the importance of honesty, integrity, loyalty and a good work ethic. These are the values that underpin all of our work that we do with our young people today.

ABOUT TYMS

Tuilaepa Youth Mentoring Service (TYMS) supports at-risk Pacific and Māori young people in Auckland, aged 6 – 25 years who otherwise fall between the cracks. ​Our evidence-based mentoring programes address the challenges of disadvantaged youth and individuals enabling them to re-engage with education, and reconnect with family, culture and community.

​Since 2010 TYMS has grown rapidly from working with just six young people to supporting over 747 young people and their families in 2021. Over the past 10 years, TYMS’s innovative mentoring, advocacy and academic support programs have reached almost 1850 Pacific and Māori young people who are disengaged by the traditional education system or are within the justice and social services system.

TYMS has a dual focus - we work at a grassroots level to directly impact the lives of our young people that need support now, while at the same time working to create catalytic, systemic change in the ecosystem around them.​

             OUR SERVICES               

Individual Mentoring

A male mentor is suitably matched with a young person, to develop their academic, social, and basic life skills, as well as fostering their connections with their family, culture, and community.

Transition to Adulthood 

Our TTA workers guide and support our young males who have been in state care to look towards the future by developing their independence into adulthood.

Residential Remand Learning

Providing an education & pastoral care programme to young people in supervised residential homes led by our TYMS Teachers.

Continuity to Care

​Providing post-care for young people that are exiting residential remand homes for an easy transition back into the community.

TYMS Hub​

​A safe and creative space for our young people to connect, learn and engage in TYMS alternative education.

OUR PROGRAMMES

IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMMES

Healthy Relationships Programme

A small group male-led boys programme to help our kids better their interactions with peers and home relationships covering foundational values to fostering and maintaining healthy relationships.

Moana Tautua - in partnership with ATWC (Anglican For Women & Children)

Individual mentoring for Senior Pacific students/learners to enhance well-being and education-related outcomes back in education ensuring multiple pathways and access to opportunities post lockdown.

SPORTING PROGRAMMMES

Polyjammers Community Basketball

​A community-aimed initiative to help provide pathways into Basketball ensuring our young Pacific boys receive premium Coaching training despite the burdens of social and financial hardships.

TYMS Sports & Life Skills (TSL) 

A School-based sports programme aiming to help school kids to develop life skills.

CULTURAL PROGRAMMES

 Mamanu (3-Day Intensive Cultural Programme)

​Ethnic specific cultural programme reconnecting youth to Pacific culture in a way that is relevant & engaging from community wide referrals.

Ofaga (Samoan programme) Secondary schools

​Secondary School programme to develop an understanding of foundational cultural values and history in an urban context, complimentary to other Pacific Language courses.

Our Impact on Young people​
Research undertaken by Point Research found the following positive changes in the young people participating in TYMS programmes
  • Creation of positive attitudes towards education
  • Turning up at school ready to learn and participate
  • Improvement of executive functions in the brain including their self-control
  • Increased awareness and understanding of their susceptibility to peer pressure
  • Awareness and pride of their cultural heritage