A Community Workbook for Ethnic Parents
In 2022, a group of ten dedicated women who were part of the work Waitaki Multicultural was doing in the ethnic communities of Oamaru, decided to join the prevention work that Shama was doing with ethnic communities across the country. After the initial workshop, the group decided to create a workbook to support ethnic parents in having open and meaningful conversations with their adolescents about healthy relationships and consent.
The project was born from the recognition that many ethnic parents want to guide their children through the complexities of growing up in Aotearoa but may lack culturally relevant resources to do so confidently. For instance, parents ignore what their adolescents learn in the schools about consent and healthy relationships. In response, the group co-created this interactive material. The booklet includes reflection exercises, practical scenarios, and conversation prompts to help break down taboos and foster honest dialogue between parents and teens. With a focus on warmth, connection, and cultural respect, the workbook aims to bridge generational gaps and empower parents to open up that space for dialogue with their children about topics such as consent, healthy, and unhealthy relationships.
The initiative was celebrated with a launch event in the community, fittingly held over tea where local families gathered to share stories, ask questions, and engage with the content together.“Let’s Talk About Healthy Relationships” booklet is an example of how prevention work can be done by community, for community. It reflects the growing movement of ethnic-led initiatives creating safer, healthier spaces for our whānau.
