This week we are introducing Belinda, team leader at Sowers Trust. Belinda started off as a youth worker in 2012. She is passionate  about building our rangatahi up for the future and helping people realise their worth. Belinda is our resident crazy cat lady, previously fostering rescue kittens, all of which she adopted! 

Here are some thoughts from Belinda:

What do you value most about the opportunity to be a youth worker and social worker?

• It is a privilege and a blessing to be welcomed into someone’s life and be given the opportunity to journey with them. One of the best things about my job is to see people realising their own strengths and building their resilience- to see our rangatahi realise their worth and value.

What challenges do you face in your role?

• As much as we would like to, we can’t control other people! One of the biggest challenges in my role is helping others (and myself!) learn that the one thing we have control over in our lives is ourselves and our reaction to things that happen to us. We can’t control how others are going to behave or react to us, we can’t control what other people think about us or how they treat us. We can on control our responses, our attitudes and our own behaviour. It’s a challenge, especially when someone is struggling with heavy issues like bullying or abuse, but it is about enhancing mana and building resilience in our rangatahi and whanau so they are able to overcome challenges. 

What one piece of advice would you give to people struggling?

• One thing I have learnt in my own journey is that there is strength in asking for help. No matter who you are or what stage of life you are in, you do not have to face things alone. In saying that, remember that you are the expert in your life, you know what works for you. Professionals are there to help you make sense of what is happening and to reach your goals, but only you are truly able to make the changes for yourself.