Rebel Ride for Rangatahi (youth) - raising money for I Have a Dream

My name is Rose Welsh and I have spent the past 7 years working as a Navigator for I Have a Dream (IHAD) in a small community in Whangarei. IHAD offers tamariki (children) and rangatahi (youth) opportunities and experiences along with academic support throughout their schooling and beyond. As a Navigator I have followed a group of students from Year 3 to Year 9 (2024), along with many other young people over the years.

We aim to support, encourage, inspire and develop the strengths and interests inherent in all students we work with, so they can better navigate their own pathway out of intergenerational challenges. Our young women especially, underestimate themselves as they manoeuvre through their teenage and high school years. Their innate potential can get buried under the many layers of protection, lack of self-belief and confidence in their own abilities.

Bike-packing will be a new adventure for me. At 51 my outlook is about continuing to grow by stepping outside my comfort zone in a positive supportive environment. This challenge is my choice and we don't always get to choose, but by stepping out of comfort zones, we can plan, prepare and practice our responses to types of adversity. Young people are always watching how those close to them, navigate challenges, set boundaries and respond to failure. They will notice how we adapt positively or negatively to adversity and set about making their own decisions from there.