Graeme Dingle Foundation launches new youth programme

Wednesday, May 25, 2016: An in-demand youth programme, helping Year 9 students take their first step into secondary school, is coming to the Bay of Plenty – thanks to a partnership between two local not-for-profit organisations.

The Wright Family Foundation today announced it will support the Tauranga branch of the Graeme Dingle Foundation (formerly Foundation for Youth Development) with a $100,000-a-year contribution for three years.

These generous funds, the highest from any private supporter, will enable the Graeme Dingle Foundation to establish its Stars programme. Using a mentoring model, matching trained Year 12 and 13 students with pupils in Year 9, the teens work together on a number of projects, including adventure camp, community adventure and charitable ventures.

Through these, the younger students build positive relationships, integrity and resilience for the world ahead as they move into secondary school, while the seniors develop their leadership, time management, planning and communication skills – a win-win for both youth and mentor.

With the current resources, made possible by Wright Family Foundation, 550 youths are able to take part in this programme and Otumoetai College has already asked to be a part of Stars.

Regional manager Dan Allen-Gordon is overwhelmed by the Wright Family Foundation’s backing, and is excited about what the future holds for both the Graeme Dingle Foundation and the students

“The ongoing support from the Wright Family Foundation will enable us to transform a lot of young lives. We’ve wanted to bring Stars to the region for a number of years, to develop and connect students in that transitional period of their lives.”

In the 21 years since it was established, the Graeme Dingle Foundation has enabled 150,000 Kiwi youths to reach their full potential, through various school-partnered programmes. These are aimed at building self-esteem, self-confidence and crucial life skills.

The Bay of Plenty arm, developed in 2004, currently runs the Kiwi Can and Project K programmes in schools throughout the region and is helping more than 2000 youngsters each year.

Kiwi Can is tailored to primary school pupils, aged five to 12. Values such as integrity and respect, delivered in a fun-filled learning environment, are the aim of this programme.

Meanwhile Project K is a 14-month course designed for Year 10 students, focussed on building confidence, teaching life skills, as well as promoting good health and a positive attitude through activities such as mentoring and outdoor adventures.

It’s these core ethics that struck a chord with the Wright Family Foundation, whose world view fits perfectly with the messages behind what the Graeme Dingle Foundation is trying to achieve.

“Nurturing our future generations through the power of education – in all its forms – is the very reason why the Wright Family Foundation was established,” says co-founder Chloe Wright.

“We feel passionately about giving children from all walks of life opportunities to explore, question and learn more about their environment.

“Respect, positive relationship building and self-confidence are all values the foundation holds true. It’s how we were raised, how we have raised our children and how we hope to raise the nation’s youth through our work with organisations such as the Graeme Dingle Foundation.”

The Stars programme will begin in the Bay of Plenty from 2017.

The Wright Family Foundation, established in March 2015 by Bay of Plenty residents Chloe and Wayne Wright, is a charitable trust that supports a number of key organisations and events in New Zealand – all with the aim of helping individuals achieve their goals through the power of education. These include the Kids’ Lit Quiz, NZ Spelling Bee, the Plain English Awards, House of Science, Plunket and BestStart Educare (formerly Kidicorp).

Visit the website, www.wrightfamilyfoundation.org.nz for more information.

ENDS

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