Volunteer youth worker has seen ‘momentous improvement’

He’s given nearly 10 years of his life to helping young people with disabilities take part in outdoor adventures, life-skills programmes and youth camps, and now Matt Alpe has been celebrated by those he dedicates his working life to.

Mr Alpe was awarded the supreme youth worker award at the second-annual I Am Auckland youth awards, held on Friday.

He was nominated by a young girl who takes part in the Recreate NZ programme, to which Mr Alpe dedicates most of his time.

“That was quite sweet,” said Mr Alpe, who first started volunteering nine years ago and has since taken on a full-time role at the charitable trust.

“I’m totally blown away. I wasn’t expecting this at all.”

Mr Alpe received jubilant applause by the team who joined him at the awards.

But it’s the young people that keep him around. Despite the challenges they face, Mr Alpe said the young people he works with at Recreate NZ are “a whole bunch of fun”.

“There are guys learning how to use public transport, how to cook food, you know, learning how to do their own meals, or they’re becoming more confident,” said Mr Alpe.

“Sometimes they struggle to socialise and make friends, so they come to Recreate and they’re connecting with people just like them, all in a safe and positive environment. I’ve seen real, tangible, momentous improvement.”

Clearly Mr Alpe thinks it’s a worthwhile investment of his time and expertise – he jokingly asked for a pay rise from his boss at the end of his acceptance speech.

Minister of Youth Affairs Nikki Kaye, and Deputy Mayor of Auckland Penny Hulse both attended the awards.

Ms Hulse said it’s important to celebrate the achievements in the youth sector.

“To be in a room and hear those stories of all those extraordinary young people doing remarkable things just fills you with hope for the future,” said Ms Hulse.

“It’s also a chance for people to have a look at who’s won and what they’re doing and how they can join in and participate, so it’s important on a whole lot of levels.”

Flora Apulu, chairperson of the Youth Advisory Panel, which ran the awards in partnership with Auckland Council and the Ministry of Youth Development, was thrilled with the outcome of the event.

“Being able to hand out the awards and just to see the faces [of the winners] and how happy they are … I’m totally stoked that we were able to put on a really awesome night for everyone,” said Ms Apulu.

Other supreme winners included Levi Hohua for his work with an after-school programme at Zeal, while the award for youth organisation of the year went to Taiohi Whai Oranga for its work with young people in Manurewa.

Ms Apulu said the Youth Advisory Panel hopes to run another awards ceremony next year.