Beats, Smiles, and Something We’ll Never Forget

By the AKA Rōpū Waiata Team

This month, a few of us from the Rōpū Waiata had the chance to do something we’ll never forget. We visited the Wilson Home Centre and ran a Cardio Drumming session for some of the most incredible kids we’ve ever met.

We came in carrying drumsticks and yoga balls. We left with hearts that felt a little fuller and minds that were completely changed.

Wilson Home Centre supports children and young people with physical disabilities. Most of the kids we met were under 21 and had a wide range of abilities. But one thing was clear the moment we started the beat; these young people knew how to feel joy and they reminded us how powerful that feeling can be.

As the music started and the drumming began, everything else faded. There was laughter. There were big smiles. There was rhythm and energy bouncing around the room like it had a life of its own. The kids were amazing. They got into it, gave it their all, and filled the room with something really special. Some couldn’t use their arms the way we could so they found their own way to join in. That moment right there reminded us that inclusion isn’t about making everyone do the same thing; it’s about creating space where everyone can be themselves.

It was one of those experiences that shifts something inside you. Being future healthcare and recreation professionals, we often learn about tools and techniques in theory. But this was different. This was hands-on, face-to-face, heart-to-heart. We got to see the impact of what we do. We saw how something as simple as music and movement can light up someone’s day.

One of the students said after the session, “This gave me more reason to keep going. It reminded me why I chose this path.” That’s how deep it went.

The Wilson Home team was incredible. They welcomed us like whānau and gave us the freedom to connect in our own way. Seeing the caregivers, therapists, and families smile alongside the kids meant everything. We felt the trust. We felt the support. And now we feel more determined than ever to keep learning and keep showing up.

To everyone who helped make this happen…thank you. This was a gift. A gift we will forever be grateful for.

Wilson Home has already invited us back. We’re ready.

Because sometimes, making a difference starts with one beat.

And once you feel that rhythm of connection, you carry it with you…forever.