Gloria Clarke
Mihimihi
Ko Te Arawa tōku waka
Ko Otawa tōku maunga
Ko Raparapahoe tōku awa
Ko Waitaha Rangiwewehi tōku iwi
Ko Hei tōku marae
Ko Stan Reihana tōku hoa rangatira (no Turangi)
Ko Gloria Clarke tōku ingoa.
About Gloria
Whānau: Mother of three
Home towns: Papamoa (BOP) and Hamilton
Occupations: Event Manager, Project Manager, Teacher, Student
Current Study: M.A in Education (Victoria University of Wellington)
Qualifications: Bachelor of Leisure Studies (University of Waikato)
Bachelor of Sport and Leisure Studies (Hons) (Waikato)
Kia ora
My name is Gloria and I am a researcher on this, the Through Our Eyes project. Affectionately referred to by the acronym TOE, the project has been set up to explore the thoughts and feelings of our rangatahi. And as a mother, an aunty, and a teacher, I think that these types of projects are really important because I have met too many rangatahi who think that the world doesn't see them, and doesn't care about what they know and think.
As a teacher and researcher I'm interested in helping others to have faith in themselves and in their ability to learn new things, and asking those who think that they know everything to seriously consider the views of others, including the young (because they know a lot more than we give them credit for).
Ngāti Tuwharetoa
I will be working with a number of youth from Ngāti Tuwharetoa (specifically Turangi), assisting them to capture images that will communicate exactly what they see and know, what they think and feel - making what's invisible, visible.
I'm working with rangatahi in Turangi.
Email: Gloria.Clarke@vuw.ac.nz
Why I have chosen to do the fieldwork in Turangi?
Why aren't I working with Te Arawa rangatahi? We recently moved our family to Taupo, and I see this project as a great way to get to know the community in which my fiancé/tane grew up, and they us. Before moving here he often talked about his childhood, whānau, and experiences in Turangi, Rotoaira, and Taupo. In some ways his experiences were very familiar, but mostly different. I was an urban child/teen who dabbled with the ocean and coastal bush. But most importantly, I couldn't (and shouldn't) pass up the chance to learn more about the rohe and communities within which our children will grow up.
