Birthright People Feature: Barbara Young

When I applied for the position of Manager at Wanganui Birthright I knew very little about the organisation. Not a lot was available to do some research on and it was only through talking to the retiring Manager that I gleaned some idea of the philosophy behind the organisation. Coming from a teaching background I was aware that there were families who struggled from day to day but where they gained assistance was a blank page.

 

Now in my 5th year as an employee of Birthright Wanganui I have seen some very big changes in the way in which Birthright is portrayed as an NGO and the invaluable assistance it provides to those raising children on their own. Raising children is a minefield of decision making and questioning of oneself and to be the only person to make those decisions can be a daunting thought. At least with a partner you have someone to bounce ideas off and come to a decision which has been viewed from all angles. On your own you need to trust your judgement and so many single parents are absolutely awesome in the ways they bring up their children. Many of these parents are doing their best to give their children every opportunity out there and this is where Birthright support in helping fund camps, school uniforms and participation in extra curriculum activities is vital. Programmes to support and strengthen parents’ beliefs that they are doing a great job are invaluable.

I have learnt so much about people over the last 4 years and am still learning. One of the things which really make this organisation strong is when somebody completely randomly says “I was a Birthright child and they really helped my mum in so many ways such as Christmas presents, being able to play sport and going on camps.’

Our best advertisement is a satisfied client who no longer needs our services.

I know my education within the organisation is ongoing and that Birthright is becoming better known throughout the country for its work with single parent families. Let’s keep building on that.