From Dreamer to Volunteer

For Dannyrei, the past ten years in the I Have a Dream (IHAD) programme have been life-changing. Now, at 19, she’s paying it forward by sharing the skills, confidence, and resilience she’s gained with friends, whānau, and the next generation of Dreamers as an IHAD Volunteer.

Her journey began with challenges. Dannyrei struggled with anger growing up, but with the steady guidance of her Navigator, Daisy, in partnership with her teachers – everything started to shift. “You got over all sorts of fears like heights, people, even speaking up,” says her mum, Zelda. “Her confidence grew, and the anger went away.”

Dannyrei agreed, saying Navigator Daisy helped her learn to cope with emotions and express them in healthy ways. 

School was another hurdle, especially with dyslexia making learning a daily challenge. But Dannyrei found her own strategies to understand tricky concepts. With determination and guidance, she achieved her NCEA Level 3 qualifications. “Maths and English are in everything you do,” she says. “Daisy helped me understand them in my own way. I even used what I learned to help my friends, and they passed their Level 3s too!”

For Zelda, her daughter’s achievements are a source of immense pride. “She’s the first in our entire whānau to finish school,” she shares. With her youngest now at Tikipunga Primary, Zelda says it’s heartwarming to see a Navigator greeting tamariki at the gate each morning. “It’s a safe and happy environment – the perfect place for your kids to be.”

Reflecting on her 10 years with IHAD, Dannyrei said there were so many great memories. “Knowing that I have so many friends that I’ve known for so long, who all grew up in a certain way – are all the same people that we once were, we’re just better.”

“Daisy allowed us to express ourselves and be who we wanted to be, but also guided us to who she knew who we could be – which was actually one of the best things that she could do for us.”

Today, Dannyrei has her sights set on joining the Navy. She completed the Limited Service Volunteer course – a six-week programme run by the New Zealand Defence Force. Being away from her whānau and without communication during that time was tough, but graduating filled her with pride. When choosing who would attend her graduation, she picked her mum, her best friend, and Daisy.

“Having Daisy there was cool because she watched me grow up from being a little kid who was shy with anger management issues – to the kid that learnt integrity and being my own person without relying on my whānau.”

Like many rangatahi across Aotearoa, Dannyrei is navigating the challenge of finding meaningful employment. Despite having qualifications and drive, she sometimes feels overlooked.

Volunteering with IHAD has become a grounding force in her life. It is something she loves, and a way to give back to others. She says her closeness in age to Dreamers makes her an even more effective mentor. “They know I know what they go through as a teenager. Some of the kids are too shy, too energetic or angry and I’m a bit of all three.”

Every Thursday, Dannyrei joins Navigators, Dreamers and our Dream Partner Freedive Aotearoa at various beaches around Whangārei, helping with outdoor learning sessions.

She also puts her hand up for any other volunteering opportunities with IHAD. During the Summer Holiday Programme Dannyrei assisted her stepdad with a fishing programme and also helped Whaea Nix at Te Kura o Otangarei during their after school programme. 

From a young girl grappling with big emotions, to a confident mentor helping others find their way, Dannyrei’s journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when our rangatahi are supported, believed in, and given space to thrive.

Now, as a volunteer, she’s helping shape the future of other young Dreamers, just as the IHAD whānau helped shape hers.

Explore the milestones, stories, and impact highlights from the past year in our 2024 Annual Report.