Mel Jay
We Are Coming
Her Future Pathway Program
A focused 6-week programme for wāhine ready to create direction, explore what’s possible, and turn their goals into practical action.
What is this program?
Her Future is a focused 6-week programme designed for wāhine who are ready to create greater direction in their lives and begin taking practical steps toward what comes next.
Sometimes the next stage of reintegration isn’t more healing or looking backwards. It’s having the space to ask: Where am I now? What do I want for myself? And what would it actually take to get there?
Her Future supports wāhine to explore their strengths, interests and possibilities, identify a meaningful direction, and turn that direction into practical action.
The programme combines:
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Exploring identity, strengths, values and interests
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Identifying areas for growth and future possibilities
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Exploring employment, education, training, community and other pathways
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Building confidence in decision-making and taking action
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Identifying practical barriers and finding realistic solutions
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Setting one meaningful 90-day goal
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Breaking goals into achievable steps
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Building support networks around individual goals
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Developing communication and self-advocacy skills
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Connecting with relevant services, organisations and opportunities
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Taking real-world action toward individual goals
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Creating an individual 90-day Future Plan
The goal is simple:
To support wāhine to move from feeling stuck or uncertain about what comes next to having direction, a realistic pathway forward, and the confidence and practical plan to begin taking action.
Dress for Success Partnership
We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with Dress for Success Christchurch as part of the For Her programme.
Dress for Success is an amazing Christchurch organisation dedicated to helping women build confidence and move towards employment and financial independence through practical support, career guidance, and professional styling services. Their mission goes far beyond clothing. They help women feel prepared, capable, and confident as they step into new opportunities.
As part of this partnership, participants in our programme will have access to a private one-on-one styling appointment where they can work with a stylist to select clothing that suits their goals, personality, and circumstances. This includes access to quality clothing, shoes, accessories, jewellery, and other essentials to help them feel confident and work-ready. Appointments are delivered with dignity, respect, and complete confidentiality.
For us, this partnership aligns perfectly with our kaupapa. Reintegration isn’t just about employment skills. It’s about rebuilding confidence, identity, and self-belief. We’re incredibly grateful to be working alongside an organisation that understands the powerful connection between how we feel about ourselves and our ability to move forward.
Who is this for?
Her Future is open to wāhine 18+ who:
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Are approximately 3–6 months or more out of an immediate crisis period and have enough stability to focus on future goals
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Feel ready to move beyond stabilisation and begin exploring what comes next
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Want greater direction, purpose or clarity about their future
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Want support identifying a meaningful and realistic goal
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Are interested in exploring employment, education, training, community involvement or other opportunities
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Are ready to take practical action toward their goals during the programme
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Can commit to attending once a week for 6 weeks
We especially welcome wāhine who may have experienced barriers or significant life challenges including:
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family or domestic violence
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addiction or recovery
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justice system involvement
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long-term unemployment
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socioeconomic hardship
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generational disadvantage
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parenting or caregiving responsibilities
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or other circumstances that have made moving forward difficult.
You don’t need to know exactly where you’re going. You just need to be ready to explore what could come next.
Her Future is designed for wāhine who have moved beyond the immediate crisis or stabilisation stage of their journey. While past experiences may form part of each wahine’s story, the focus of this programme is not on processing the past. It is on building what comes next.
Program details
Duration: 6 Weeks
Days: 1 Day Per Week (Mondays)
Time: 10am – 1pm
Location: Linwood. Christchurch
Cohort Size: 12 participants
This programme is fully funded through community support.
What you'll gain
By the end of the programme, participants will:
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Have a clearer understanding of where they are now and what they want to work toward
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Identify their strengths, values, interests and existing capabilities
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Explore possibilities for their future across employment, education, training, community, personal development and other meaningful pathways
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Identify one meaningful 90-day goal
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Break their goal into realistic and achievable steps
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Identify barriers that could impact their progress and develop practical strategies to navigate them
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Identify the people, services and resources that can support their goal
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Build confidence in decision-making, communication and self-advocacy
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Strengthen their ability to ask for and access appropriate support
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Connect with relevant organisations, services, training providers or opportunities where appropriate
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Take real-world action toward their chosen goal during the programme
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Build connections with a supportive group of wāhine
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A professional wardrobe with our Dress for Success partnership
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Receive individual guidance around their next steps
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Develop an individual 90-Day Future Plan
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Leave with greater direction, confidence and a practical pathway forward
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Receive a certificate of completion
Your pathway forward might include:
Employment
Exploring work opportunities, creating a CV, preparing to return to employment, developing workplace skills or taking practical steps toward a career goal.
Study or Training
Identifying courses, qualifications or training opportunities and taking the first steps toward enrolment or further skill development.
Personal Development
Working toward a meaningful personal goal such as gaining a licence, developing a new skill, strengthening routines or completing something that creates greater independence and opportunity.
Community + Participation
Exploring volunteering, community involvement, leadership opportunities or other ways to build connection, experience and purpose.
Something uniquely yours
Not every meaningful next step fits neatly into employment or education. Your goal might be something completely different that represents progress in the life you want to build.
Every wahine’s future will look different. The goal isn’t to push everyone toward the same destination. It’s to help you identify what matters to you, create a realistic pathway toward it, and begin moving.
By the end of the six weeks, you won’t just have spent time thinking about your future. You’ll leave with one clear 90-day goal, an individual Future Plan, identified support around you, and real steps already underway.
Commitment & Expectations
Her Future Pathway is a structured programme.
Participants are expected to:
• Attend at least 80% of sessions
• Arrive on time and stay for the whole session
• Follow dress and professionalism standards
• Respect confidentiality
• Be open to feedback and growth
• This is a re-integration kaupapa so must not be under the influence of any substances when at the program
• Not currently be in active crisis or instability
This is a supportive but accountable environment.
Why?
For Her exists because too many women are left rebuilding alone.
Leaving violence, addiction, or hardship is one step.
Rebuilding identity, income, and opportunity is another.
This kaupapa was created to offer a bridge.
A space that is safe, structured, and focused on forward movement without dismissing what you've experienced and acknowledging the hardships that can come across your path while you navigate your journey we are here to support and empower you even through the hard moments.
Application process
Spots are limited to maintain a safe and supportive environment. If this feels aligned, we encourage you to apply.
How to apply:
Step 1: Complete the application form
Step 2: Short phone interview
Step 3: Confirmation of acceptance
Applications close: First week of October
Next cohort begins: TBC but end of October or first week of November
If you'd like to go on the waitlist or have any questions please send an email to hellomeljay@gmail.com or if you're ready to apply please apply below.