Transformation through education

I spent most of Saturday morning in tears.... I know, I have started my blog with this teary event often but I tell no lies - I had tears in my eyes for most of Saturday morning.

This is the line of work I am in - I truly believe that I am part of a revolution of claiming education for Maori,  Pasifica and the disconnected - and the rush of transforming lives is addictive, moving and humbling...

Transformation through education
On Saturday I was at a graduation for Maori, Pasifica and two Indians who were graduating from completing a Police preparation course and were now on their way to going to Police College. One of the stories that was shared by a student speaker was about his efforts over ten years of trying to get into the police force, and his failure on course after course until he enrolled on ours and he was finally taught in way that he understood. His life, by his own admission was never going to be the same. He like many other people had been transformed through education.

Transformation through generations
I have just returned from Australia with work. We were part of a contingent that visited our counterparts in Australia who also did work with Indigenous peoples. Sitting as part of a major Australian university is a quiet Koorie education revolution that is making a difference. One of the ways that was used to teach was similar to our noho model (residence) where students travelling for days stayed at campus for a week of intensive study - a few times a year. We were able to spend time in a housing establishment where students came to stay as they went through their studies - and what I liked was that the housing provided spaces for students with families. What was encouraging to hear was that cousins and family relatives also on the courses that were running often came and stayed together. The photos of graduates which lined the walls of these buildings and of the tutorial rooms and administration offices were evidence of this transgenerational and whanau (family) education...  I love it!

Transformation through life
Today I sat on an interview panel for people who had applied to be on one of our degrees. There were two people that I will never forget. One was a middle aged white male the other a young Maori female. Both had had spent time in prison and familiar with addictions and demons of a kind that bound their lives on a pathway to no good. Yet, here they both were, working through their past, recently completed a certificate and firmly rooted on a new pathway that they were hungry to advance. I was blown away with what I saw as transformation through education in reality. I witnessed the end product of people who had physically overcome barriers I would never know and had transformed their lives - it was humbling and I was touched.

Transformation through how we do things
Transformative education " is courses and assessments that enable people to change the way they think and act in society...." and it is a privilege to work in an organisation that does this every day. Seeing people that have had terrible primary and secondary school experiences learning new concepts that change their lives is amazing. Recently, a lecturers recalled an incident where one of his students, after learning about healthy relationships - 'up and left' a violent marriage with her children in tow. She took courage from the things that she learnt and had recognised in her own life the need for change. She re-evaluated her place in the community she existed in and chose a better way....

I believe the work that I am involved with, transformation through education, is like watching in real-time and real-life human metormorphosis and I consider myself privileged to be a witness of the growth in our students. If you ever want to see it in real life - come to a graduation at a campus near you - your life will never be the same!

Yours in friendship,

Mxox