The Graeme Dingle Foundation is calling for volunteer mentors as it prepares to launch its youth development programme Project K at Tauranga Girls’ College.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Tauranga Girls’ College to bring Project K into a new school community this year,” Project K co-ordinator Annaliese Arnold said.

The 14-month programme is designed for Year 10 students and aims to build self-confidence, life skills and motivation through outdoor challenges, teamwork and one-on-one mentoring.

Project K has three stages: a wilderness adventure, a community challenge, and an individual mentoring partnership with a trained mentor.

“Twelve Year 10 students will be selected to take part in the programme, with the 19-day Wilderness Adventure scheduled for early June,” Arnold said.

“The programme is presently in the selection phase, which is an exciting time as we begin identifying the students who will take part in this year’s programme.”

Key part

Western Bay of Plenty manager Neil Alton said the mentoring phase is a key part of the programme, providing students with ongoing encouragement and support as they work towards personal goals.

“Volunteer mentors are paired with a student and meet with them regularly, offering guidance and a listening ear while helping them maintain the positive changes developed during the earlier stages of the programme,” Alton said.

The relationship is designed to complement the young person’s existing support network of parents, caregivers and teachers.

‘Incredibly powerful’

Arnold said mentoring can be “incredibly powerful” for a young person.

“Many of our young people simply benefit from having someone outside their immediate circle who believes in them and walks alongside them,” Arnold said.

“Project K gives our rangatahi the opportunity to discover their strengths, set goals for their future, and realise what they’re capable of, and mentors play a really important role in that journey.”

Project K also focuses on building positive relationships and encouraging healthy lifestyles, and aims to help rangatahi develop the motivation to pursue education and employment, and to become active contributors to their communities.

Just as rewarding

“Mentors often say the experience is just as rewarding, as they build meaningful connections and support a young person to realise their potential,” Arnold said.

According to the Graeme Dingle Foundation, the programme has been shown to improve school attendance, social skills and academic achievement, while reducing negative behaviours such as truancy and smoking.

An independent study by Infometrics found the foundation’s youth development programmes deliver a significant return for New Zealand, with every $1 invested generating an estimated $10.50 in social and economic benefits.

The foundation supports nearly 30,000 young people across New Zealand annually through its programmes.

Mentors are now being recruited for the Tauranga Girls’ College programme, with five confirmed so far and 12 required in total. Interested people are encouraged to get in touch with Arnold by email at: Annaliese.arnold@dinglefoundation.org.nz

More needed

“We are also looking for mentors across our other Western Bay of Plenty Project K programmes at Te Puke High School, Mount Maunganui College and Ōtūmoetai College,” Arnold said. “Both male and female mentors are welcome, with a particular need for male mentors.”

Anyone interested in mentoring at these three schools is encouraged to email Project K co-ordinator Pitiera Tuhura at: pietiera.tuhura@dinglefoundation.org.nz.