How WELLfed Helped a Young Māmā Rewrite Her Story

Our partner charity, WELLfed, is all about creating spaces where people can heal, grow, and thrive. For one young māmā, reconnecting with WELLfed became the turning point that helped her reshape her future and her whānau’s story.

“I’m so glad I reached out to WELLfed. They’ve changed my life.”

A young māmā recently shared these words after completing several WELLfed programmes. Her story is a powerful reminder of what can happen when people are given the support and encouragement to find their strengths.

Her early years were far from easy. She grew up with instability and violence, became a mum at 17, faced postnatal depression with her second child, and then lost her dad, uncle, and both grandparents in quick succession. The grief was overwhelming, and she spent four years caught in a cycle of alcohol and drug use.

Through it all, she did everything she could to hold her whānau together. Eventually, she knew she needed something to change. That’s when she reconnected with WELLfed.

The first step was counselling. She had put it off for years but finally found the courage to try. “It became my outlet,” she said. A safe space to understand herself, her emotions, and where she wanted to head next. Alongside that, the practical and welcoming environment at WELLfed helped her reconnect with her strengths and focus on her kids.

The parenting course became a turning point. She learned how to respond to her tamariki with calm, kindness, and consistency. Skills she had never been taught but quickly embraced. The change at home was instant. More laughter, more learning, more love. Her kids are now thriving. They’re doing well at school, enjoying sports, and feeling proud of their mum.

These days she’s not only looking after her own whānau, she’s giving back. She leads garden and kai sessions at her children’s school, encourages other parents, and dreams up ways to support young mums like herself. Her healing has opened the door to something bigger. A future that’s hopeful, connected, and full of purpose.

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Words and images supplied by WELLfed.