REP – Paul Harris presentations
President Warwick Leyland presented PHF Awards to
Reena Lata – REP Facilitator, Aorere College
Leilani Tamu – Community Co-ordinator, Kelston Girls’ College
For their outstanding service to the REP Programme.
Leonie Blake acknowledged Leilani, and Reena in relation to the PHF Awards and she offered a heartfelt thank you to them both, emphasizing the special and unique contributions they have made to the program.
REP – overview from Programme Manager – Leonie Blake.
Leonie Blake, Program Manager for REP (Rotary Reading Enrichment Program), introduced the programme and thanked key contributors for shaping its warm, inclusive culture.
With a background as an English teacher, she described REP’s growth from eight to twelve schools since she started in late 2024 and explained its focus on supporting Year 9 students transitioning to high school, with recent expansion into two primary schools for Year 8 students.
REP pairs community volunteers one-on-one with students who need extra literacy support, using structured reading materials to build fluency, confidence, and strong intergenerational relationships.
The program benefits students, families, volunteers, and schools alike, relieving classroom pressure while fostering meaningful connections.
Currently operating in 12 schools across areas including South and West Auckland and Waiheke Island, REP supports about 269 students with 149 volunteers, with some schools expanding to multiple weekly sessions.
She explained that REP supports students transitioning to high school, primarily Year 9 students by providing one-on-one literacy support through community volunteers.
The program pairs students who are slightly below expected reading levels with volunteers, creating mutually enriching, intergenerational relationships that build literacy skills and confidence. Since Leonie started in late 2024 REP has grown from eight to twelve schools, now serving 269 students with 149 volunteers across Auckland, and continues to expand through strong school partnerships and community involvement.
Leonie Blake provided an overview of the program’s purpose, structure, impact, and growth.
REP supports students by pairing them with community volunteers for structured, one-on-one literacy mentoring that builds reading skills and confidence.
The program has grown significantly, expanding to 12 schools with 269 students and 149 volunteers, delivering thousands of hours of mentoring annually and adding several new schools in 2025, with further expansion planned for 2026.
Leonie highlights the mutual benefits for students, volunteers, and schools, emphasizes the importance of strong partnerships and data collection to measure impact, and concludes by thanking the many contributors who make the program possible.
