The community taking the helm.

At Pathway, we believe that prison reintegration is not the responsibility of Corrections alone. We often say that the community is part of the solution, and a recent sailing trip was the perfect example of this.

Two of our volunteers, Jane and Rory, are keen sailors who often enjoy a day out on the water in Lyttleton Harbour. Having been involved with our work for many years, Jane and Rory know how valuable community interaction can be for the men we work with, so they initiated a sailing day, inviting Reintegration Navigator Silvan, along with some of our Tū Ora, for a day on the water.

“I grew up sailing on the Waitemata; it's something that I love doing,” Rory explains. “Sailing is fun, but it’s more fun if the experience is shared with other people,” which is why Rory and Jane extended the invite to our Tū Ora.

For the men, it was a completely new experience. None of them had been on a sailboat before, so this was an opportunity to broaden their horizons and step out of their comfort zones. That came with nerves and uncertainty, but once they got going, they became part of the crew. “Rory and Jane got us all involved,” says Silvan, “Asking us to pull this rope, or use the winch. So we were all really engaged in the process, not just passengers, but actual participants. That was super cool,”

More than learning and experiencing sailing for the first time, an opportunity like this allows the men to see positive examples of social interaction and healthy conversation. It’s these real-life experiences that help them understand how to navigate different scenarios in everyday life. For Silvan, this is one of the most valuable parts of community and Tū Ora interaction.

"One of the guys had some expensive sunglasses, and when he jumped on the paddleboard, they fell off into the water and were gone. He was gutted and had to manage his emotions in the moment. Watching that process was really cool. Whereas in the past, he might have reacted quite aggressively, he was just really vocal about his frustration but able to manage it and not take it out on others."

Reflecting on the sailing trip, Rory concluded, “It was great having the guys on board our boat. They brought a different energy to something that is very familiar to me, making it new and interesting. I would totally recommend the experience and will look for more opportunities to repeat it.”

We hope to continue facilitating new experiences for our Tū Ora, allowing the community to be part of the solution. This is why if you have a passion, skill or community that you’re a part of, and you think it could be used to help someone reintegrate into the community, let us know!

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