Truancy rates drop at 27 schools thanks to Christchurch charity

Nearly 30 schools around the country are seeing a drop in truancy thanks to Christchurch-run charity E Tū Tāngata.

The movement, founded by Jay and Nicky Geldard to tackle tall poppy syndrome, focuses on making students feel valued and learning to value others at a time when self-worth is suffering as a result of social media and other pressures.

The 27 schools involved have embraced the kaupapa, including a song that includes the words ‘when I look in the mirror, what do I see? A valuable person looking back at me’.

Jay Geldard became emotional as he talked about why he loves that line.

“That’s what you want to do here – create a culture where kids can sing it and believe it... We want a nation where kids can look in the mirror and say 'I have value'."

He said one in four young people in Aotearoa are "highly fatigued, depressed, anxious".

"As a youth worker, seeing the stats on our suicide rate, it needs to change. Something has to change.”

The change is already taking place at Christchurch’s Rowley School, where principal Graeme Norman has seen attendance go from 40% to over 80%.

“I need my children to feel valued when they come to school so they want to be here," Norman said.

Rowley School student Nikota Devereux said it's increased his confidence in a big way.

It's a sentiment echoed by his classmate Royal-Blue Walker.

“At my old school, it was just crazy. I didn’t want to be there, I didn’t feel comfortable and here, I just feel great. I feel like I’m loved. I can just be me,” she said.

At Wainui School, west of Auckland, they’ve experienced a similar phenomenon, with students even choreographing a dance to the E Tū Tāngata song.

“Our children definitely want to be at school every day," assistant principal Leanne Stevenson said.

"If they're unwell, they still don't want to go home; they want to stay here. They actually love being at school."

And the movement is growing, with another 30 schools considering using the initiative too.

“Maybe we can actually change our culture, maybe we can actually change Aotearoa where people know who they are and are able to recognise the value in other people as well," Nicky Geldard said.

“This affects so many lives of kids who don’t know their worth and that’s what we're trying to address," Jay Geldard added.