Discussions and forums with rangatahi led to the idea of creating a social enterprise, where rangatahi could use their skills and invest their time, to lead into paid employment.  Whanake Youth presented the idea of introducing a container café, to open to the community when the new youth park was developed in Stoke.  A group of rangatahi involved with Whanake Youth showed interest and enthusiasm for the project and alongside staff, worked together to create what is now known as SYP café.

 

The purpose of SYP café is to give local rangatahi an opportunity to learn skills, develop confidence and gain knowledge in both the hospitality and retail sectors.  SYP café is a youth training café, providing on-the-job training and employment pathways for rangatahi in our community.  It is also a social enterprise, so any profit goes back to SYP café, the young people, the community, and Whanake Youth.  By being involved in SYP café, young people are being supported in a real-time, trading café, with a hands-on hospitality role, while being given opportunities to learn at their pace and feel safe to make mistakes or ask any questions.

 

SYP café offers a wide-scale social and environmental impact by giving rangatahi access to training and employment while also providing the community with an affordable café experience.  SYP café aims to bridge the gap between our unemployed and disengaged rangatahi, giving them skills, experience, and the opportunity of a career in our region's hospitality industry. The outcomes for the local community should be positive for both the rangatahi involved in the café and the customers who support it.