Voyage For VOYCE: Solo Sailing a Figure 8 for Youth in Foster Care

American solo sailor, and former foster youth, Elana Connor (of Peregrina Sails), is sailing a Figure 8 voyage around Aotearoa New Zealand to raise funds for VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai. These funds will enable the creation of a new scholarship program for youth in foster care to attend the 10-day youth development journeys aboard the Spirit of New Zealand tall ship.

Spirit of New Zealand journeys have been studied and proven to create a significant and sustained increase in resilience among youth who complete the programme. New Zealand's foster youth deserve access to experiences other young people have, especially the Spirit's life-changing journeys, which will provide them a pivotal opportunity to grow their self-confidence, teamwork skills, resilience, and personal aspirations.

By creating this fund, we will be expanding the horizon of possibility for foster youth, equipping and enabling them to realize their greater potential!

VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai is an independent organisation that helps to advocate for the over 6,000 young people young children living with whanau or foster families, all over New Zealand. VOYCE exists to amplify the voices of children in care and ensure that they are heard – so as to positively influence their individual care and to collectively affect change in the wider care system.

Codified in VOYCE's guiding Pou (pillars) are Rangatiratanga and Whai Pukenga: to build leadership among children and young people in care, and to help equip children and young people in care for their future. Together, let's create this new scholarship fund for care-experienced kiwi youth, and enable these young people to sail with stronger spirits into a future of infinite possibilities!

Go to https://voyce.org.nz/voyage/ to find out more information about VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai.