Twenty-two hours, fifty-five Minutes, two flights and one lay over later a keen but tired student has reached our shores. Lonneke from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences is here at YES Disability Resource Centre for ten weeks to research the impact empowerment has on disabled young people. While sipping L&P and chopping on mince and cheese pies – the real Kiwi lunch, we sat down a chatted about her trip and why us.

Why did you choose New Zealand? “The term empowerment in my country is very new and unheard of using is as a way to work with disabled young people.  When I looked up the word I found it originated from the Maori word Mana and I thought there is no better place to base my research, especially after learning about the big changes that are happening in the disability sector here”

Why YES Disability? “When I looked up disability and youth in New Zealand YES was the most relevant to my outline - they embody empowerment they really do work with the young people to create independence, belonging and wellbeing. Lucky for me they were happy to be involved.”  

What will you do with your research? “I will be putting forward recommendations to my county (Netherlands) on the importance of empowerment and how to apply it when working with young people with disabilities. New Zealand is actually a head of us in the way you work with people”

How do you Auckland so far? “The people have been really friendly, I have been enjoying the weather but, I don’t really like these meat and cheese pies”

We feel very proud that our reputation as experts in supporting young people with disabilities has reached to the other side of the world. We look forward to working alongside Lonneke over the next ten weeks to show her a broad and diverse picture of youth and disability in New Zealand