Rakky dropped out of school when she was 15. She was, she said, disruptive, often missed classes and had no goals. It was her mother who saw a poster about ĀKAU (an architecture studio and youth program where young people get to work on real projects inside their community) and signed her daughter up.

Reluctant at first, it was a game changer. “During the ĀKAU programme,” she said, “I gained my level 2 credits and found it was a lot different from school. It offered amazing experiences that schools didn’t have. I was involved in real life projects inside my community, where we got to see our concepts being developed. While doing projects ĀKAU was always pushing us to do better because they knew we could and kept challenging us. During this process of doing projects, I became more socially involved and connected to my community.” Rakky found she was good at public speaking and used this talent by doing the presentations for their work such as one about the architectural concepts for the redevelopment of a local marae that the young people designed.

With ĀKAU she went on some inspiring hikoi - traveling to Auckland to visit other architectural practices and a university. It was this experience that helped her decide that university was for her.

Now an intern with ĀKAU Rakky is working towards a career in design. In the meantime ĀKAU is helping her prepare for university by supporting her through the classes she is doing with Te Kura Pounamu. “From three years ago, just looking for a good time, to now where I am speaking inside Parliament, I think I’ve done pretty well at ĀKAU.”