2024 Piki Ake
Oceania Literacy Trust ran two Piki Ake programmes in 2024.
March 2024 Piki Ake : The Messengers of the Gospel 4 Square Tongan Church of NZ
May 2024 Piki Ake : Magele i Sisifo EFKS Samoa Christian Church
The Messengers of the Gospel 4 Square Tongan Church of NZ
Free Literacy Tutoring
In March 2024, the Piki Ake program was launched to offer free literacy tutoring to 9 youth and their families at The Messengers of the Gospel 4 Square Tongan Church of New Zealand.
By the end of the programme in August, 4 out of the 9 students had consistently attended the literacy sessions held at their church in Otahuhu.
Unfortunately, the remaining 5 students faced unforeseen challenges that prevented them from completing the programme. These barriers included difficulties with transportation, unexpected family events such as relocations for job opportunities, and housing instability, including moves both locally and overseas.
Below are the results for the 4 students who successfully completed the full Piki Ake "Messengers of the Gospel 4 Square Tongan Church of NZ" programme.
|
Students |
Age |
Initial Spelling Age |
Completed Weekly Set Tasks |
Final Spelling Age |
Progress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Student 1 |
11 |
10yrs2m |
50% |
12yrs2m |
+2yrs |
|
Student 2 |
10 |
12yrs6m |
55% |
14yrs3m |
+1yr9m |
|
Student 3 |
8 |
7yrs7m | 43% | 7yrs10m | +3m |
|
Student 4 |
13 |
11yrs6m | 61% | 14y8m | +3yrs2m |
We would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Pastor Mele Finavala for her tokoni (help) and unwavering manako (willingness) in offering Piki Ake to the church families and youth of The Messengers of the Gospel 4 Square Tongan Church. Her dedication to seeing them improve in their tauhi ʻo e fakamāmani (literacy) will better equip them for future secondary schooling and NCEA, opening up greater opportunities for their lotoʻilalo (career pathways) in the future. Her generosity is a true reflection of her commitment to the well-being of her community.
Magele i Sisifo EFKS Samoa Congregational Church
Free Literacy Tutoring
In May 2024, the Piki Ake programme was offered to 11 youth and their families at the Magele i Sisifo EFKS Church, providing free literacy tutoring.
The majority of students attended consistently, largely due to strong parental involvement and the ongoing support and participation of Reverend Martin and Faletua Toreka Mariota.
By the end of the programme in September, 9 out of the 11 students had attended the literacy sessions regularly, which were held at their church in Māngere.
Two students were unable to attend consistently and, as a result, did not complete their weekly tasks. This led to limited progress and a decline in their literacy development.
Increased Confidence
Partnership with community church
Significant Literacy Improvement
Free Literacy Tutoring
Below are the results for all 11 students who completed the "Magele i Sisifo EFKS Samoa Congregational Church" Piki Ake programme.
The data shows that those who attended regularly and completed their weekly tasks consistently made the most significant progress.
|
Students |
Age |
Initial Spelling Age / Level |
Final Spelling Age / Level |
Progress |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Student 1 |
14 |
15yrs / L14 |
15yrs / L14 |
0 |
|
Student 2 |
13 |
12yrs4m / L13 |
14y3m / L14 |
+1yr11m |
|
Student 3 |
12 |
11yrs / L11 | 11y6m / L12 | +6m |
|
Student 4 |
11.9 |
12yrs / L13 | 14.1yrs / L14 | +2yrs1m |
|
Student 5 |
13 |
12yrs 6m / L14 | 13yrs / L14 | +6m |
|
Student 6 |
13 |
10.6yrs / L10 | 11.8yrs / L12 | +1yr.2m |
|
Student 7 |
13 |
11yrs6m/L12 | 12yrs.2m / L13 | +8m |
|
Student 8 |
14 |
12y / L12 | 10ys | -2yrs |
|
Student 9 |
14 |
10yrs1m / L9 |
15yrs / L14 |
+4yrs11 m |
|
Student 10 |
13 |
14yr5m /L14 |
15yrs / L14 |
+7m |
|
Student 11 |
13 |
10yr / L10 |
14yrs L14 |
+4yrs |
I would like to sincerely thank Reverend Martin and Faletua Toreka Mariota for their loto alofa (kind hearts) and willingness to offer the Piki Ake programme to their aiga (church families) and tupulaga (youth). Their support has helped students strengthen their literacy skills, preparing them more effectively for secondary schooling and NCEA, and opening up greater avanoa (opportunities) for future career pathways.
How much do you think you’ve changed as a reader since doing Piki Ake?
- Piki Ake has changed me alot as I have more knowledge of things I’d never known before. I disliked the subject of reading but now drawn into literacy.
- I have changed alot. Whenever I would read a book I would struggle to pronounce or understand the meaning behind the words, but now I can read a book knowing that I understand the meaning behind the words and can pronounce it well.
- I now know the meaning of the word and how to spell it and putting it into a sentence and learning new words and how to pronounce it. I am getting the hang of it and it teaches me that it is ok to make a mistake.
- It has changed me alot because before the programme I wasn’t as confident as other kids at reading but then when the church announced the programme and when I went the lady was showing us how the programme worked. I started coming every week and gained my confidence to read.
- I’ve improved so much in my reading that now I can pronounce difficult words.
- I like reading and drawing more. I think reading is hard but I’m okay.
- I think that I have changed alot since doing Piki Ake as not only did it help me improve my reading, it also helped me in my writing and spelling skills. I say this because spelling has been my enemy. It was one of the things that I struggled with the most. Piki Ake has also helped me learn new words. As a result these words have helped my writing skills to improve.
- I changed a little bit then before I think but I don’t really know if I have improved or not.
- I think that I’ve changed alot. My reading has gotten better these few weeks all thanks to this programme.
What did you enjoy most about Piki Ake in regards to the actual reading and programmes?
- I enjoyed the gathering of us students and also not we’d be competitive over finishing our weekly goals plus 10 and winning the prizes in addition to theat I overall enjoyed the time and opportunity to have these programs given to us.
- What I enjoy most about the programme is that it helps me improve with my literacy skills.
- The activities and how you have to spell the words and put them into a sentence and using our knowledge to do the hard parts of the activities.
- For the last 2 terms was doing all the fun activities like spelling which showed me new words that I could use at school. Also the matching game which helped my memory.
- Every level you do they always have fun new challenges. like doing my target over 10% . I enjoy the spelling, the pizza and spelling games.
- I have enjoyed alot was the spelling activity, as I mentioned before, spelling was one of my enemies, but now the Piki Ake has helped me work on the difficult words and improve which I believe I did.
- I enjoyed using the Steps Web website because it helped me with my spelling. I also liked the food.
- Is getting to learn new words and learn new skills with my friends.
Do you have any suggestions of how it could be even better?
- No , I strongly believe the Piki Ake programs and everything within it is spot on.
- I do not have any suggestions because this programme is already good !
- By supporting one another and encourage each other as a class and need to announce it to other kids and families to get more kids to come and join.
- To have more games to make it more fun and interesting.
- No because it is perfect just as it is.
- No its already better.
- Include class activities, do activities or games with the whole class during the session to help them get energized for the activities they have to complete.
- Maybe change the time it starts to 6. Also do it twice a week so we can improve more.
- No, I actually love how everything is and how things are turning out. I want us all to come together and do this as we grow into the bigger person that we are today. This programme has been my best preogramme of all time.Forever love this programmeand can’t wait to tell my friends all about this great Piki Ake is.