Project K Annual Appeal Supporting Information
Ever wondered if what it would be like if today's young people could all reach their full potential? Would your road or
the road of your child, or friend, have been easier if we had better life skills to make the right decisions and reach
our full potential? Worth thinking about, right? Project K is a New Zealand youth development trust that aims to inspire
13 -15 year old to reach their full potential. Programmes build self-esteem and give life direction by teaching
life-skills as well as promoting good health and education.
The brainchild of New Zealand adventurer Graeme Dingle and partner Jo-anne Wilkinson, Project K Trust was set up in
1995, in consultation with leading educationists and youth experts. Programmes now run across the country. Since 1996
over 1250 students have participated in Project K. In 2005 we project that more than 900 students will enter Project K
Programmes. With the positive results we have achieved we obviously want to be able to offer the programme to many more
students. Project K is mainly funded through sponsorship and donations and the cost of putting each student through the
programme is about $5,500. There is no cost to students.
We hope that with your support through the additional expose about Project K we will raise enough funds to see at least
one thousand students participating in Project K next year. Community-driven Project K programmes are based on leading
research on building resilience. They are a catalyst for creating positive change, self-empowerment and help equip young
people so they reach their full potential. Establishing Project K was a proactive response to increasing negative youth
statistics in education, employment, suicide, substance abuse and crime throughout the country.
The 14-month programme is designed for Year 10 students. Those who will most benefit are identified by administering an
internationally recognised survey to the whole Year 10 form. After cross-referencing the survey results with teachers,
students are invited to participate (at no cost) with their parents’ permission and support. Programmes are delivered in
three parts:
Wilderness Adventure – For 3 weeks, the wilderness provides the backdrop for students to learn goal setting, teamwork,
perseverance, self-reliance and self knowledge. After preparation at camp students go on a 10-day journey that includes
kayaking, abseiling, tramping, and mountain biking and camping.
Sony Community Challenge – Students adapt the lessons learnt in the wilderness to their community by exploring the
resources, opportunities and support available in their area. They also undertake a local project to ‘give something
back’ to their community and set on-going personal, academic, health and fitness goals to achieve within a year.
Carter Holt Harvey Project K Mentoring – Carefully screened and trained mentors are then paired with students for 12
months to support them in achieving their self-set goals. The mentors are also friendly, objective listeners who help
sustain and strengthen the positive changes made in the first two stages of the programme. Mentoring complements the
students’ existing relationship with parents / caregivers and teachers.
Programmes are run in participating schools across New Zealand and are delivered through Project K regional licensed
trusts – known as Licensees. Project K Trust is a registered charitable trust.
Year 10 students who will most benefit from the programme are identified through an internationally recognised survey
completed by the whole form. After consultation with teachers and caregivers, students are invited to take part, at no
cost. Students cannot be referred.
Project K works. Evaluation shows Project K students have increased self-esteem, stay longer in education, achieve goals
and have improved attitudes and behaviours. Many graduates have achieved far more than they dreamed possible. In
essence, Project K is a driving force in creating a better New Zealand. Project K is supported by many leading
New Zealanders: PATRON - Her Excellency, the Hon Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM, DBE, Governor-General of NZ CO-PATRON -
The Rt. Rev Sir Paul Reeves GCMG, GCVO, QSO, KSTJ PROJECT K TRUSTEES - John Baird; Graeme Dingle ONZM, MBE; Dean
Ellwood; Mike Hutcheson; Paul Merrick; and Jo-anne Wilkinson PROJECT K CEO - Peter Doone MPA (Harvard) LLM PROJECT K
FOUNDATION TRUSTEES - Andrew Clement; Eion Edgar; Sir Edmund Hillary KG, KBE, ONZ; Graeme Dingle ONZM, MBE; Dame
Catherine Tizard; Wayne Walden and The Hon Fran Wilde QSO.
Graeme Dingle, mountaineer, adventurer, artist, writer and co-founder of Project K. Best known for his climbing
achievements: First ascents of mountains and faces in the Andes, Himalaya, Antarctica and New Zealand First ascent in
one season of all six classic European north faces including the notorious Eiger and Matterhorn First traverse of the
Southern Alps (100 days in winter) First traverse of the Himalaya, 5000 KM’s in 265 day. A 400 day, 28,000 km
circumnavigation of the Arctic in two stages
Graeme is also the author of ten books and has been closely involved in the production of more than two dozen adventure
films. He has also been the founder and chief executive of 4 successful charities including The Sir Edmund Hillary
Outdoor Pursuits Centre. A daring man he has achieved hundreds of startling mountaineering, rock climbing and
adventuring firsts throughout the world.
Recipient of numerous awards including the Governor Generals Award for mountain rescue, the MBE for services to outdoor
pursuits, the Award of New Zealand for services to recreation and sport, the Antarctic Service Medal of the United
States, the Top 200 Companies Visionary Leader Award, Toastmasters Communication and Leadership Award and is an Officer
of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
And the list goes on: founding chairman of the New Zealand Outdoor Assembly, currently Chairman and Executive Trustee of
the Project K Trust and Honorary Member of the New York based Circumnavigators’ Club
Jo-anne Wilkinson is a lawyer and has committed the last ten years of her life to establishing Project K. She is also
adventurous and has taken various sea-kayaking journeys around the New Zealand coast including a 1200 km sea-kayak and
mountain traverse. She has done several Arctic journeys including a 4000km traverse of Alaska and the Bering Sea by
small boat and also a canoe trip down the Yukon River. Sea-kayaking Espirito Santo, Vanuatu. She has also been awarded
the 2002-03 Toastmasters Leadership and Communications Award.
For more information please see our website: http://www.projectk.org.nz
Hello Staff Have you ever wondered what it would be like if young people could all reach their full potential? Would
your road, or the road of a friend been a little easier if you had had the life skills to make the right decisions and
reach your full potential?
What’s Project K? Project K is a New Zealand youth development trust that aims to inspire 13-15 year-olds reach their
full potential. Programmes build self-esteem and give life direction by teaching life skills as well as promoting good
health and education.
Project K is a positive life changing experience. The fourteen month programme combines adventure therapy, community
awareness and is underpinned by qualified educators and trainers. Each student is teamed with a one-on–one mentor to
guide and encourage over the duration of the programme.
How can I help? With the positive results being achieved Project K wants to be able to increase the number of students
participating in programmes across the country. Funded mainly through sponsorships and donations September is Project
K's annual appeal and we are asking for your help.
And you can make a difference!
Make a donation - simply call 0900 *** *** to make an automatic $20.00 donation through your Telecom account.
Alternatively a cheque would be more than welcome.
Become a mentor – take a look at our website and learn more about how to join our mentoring programme. Training is free,
you will be making a huge difference in the life of a young person and the skills leant will also be an asset to your
personal, professional and business development.
“Project K gives you a straight line, its made things a lot easier, I now know where I am heading.” J. Lamb, 2003
graduate.
www.projectk.org.nz
A nation, a people, a country that does not value its youth, does not deserve its future Without them there can be no
future.” NELSON MANDELA