Positive Outlook, Positive Future

Remember when you were a kid. Life seemed full of possibilities. So why should that attitude change? Young people today need to be encouraged to stay positive, aim high, go for their dreams, and make the most of their unique talents. That’s us right there, cheering them on.

The Graeme Dingle Foundation is a child and youth charity founded by Sir Graeme Dingle and Jo-anne Wilkinson, Lady Dingle,  in 1995 as the Project K Trust. The Graeme Dingle Foundation is a leader in the field of child and youth development, running several successful proven programmes – Kiwi Can, Stars, Career Navigator, Project K.

Our programmes cover young people from 5-24 and have been proven to have a direct impact on building resilience to help them overcome life’s obstacles and thrive. Participating students have access to inspirational leaders and mentors when taking part in programmes that provide the skills they need to prosper. We believe it is important that we not only do good, but we can prove the difference we make.

Our programmes empower tamariki and rangatahi to overcome life’s obstacles and are informed by best practice research. With our University research partners, we know our programmes improve attitudes and behaviour, improve academic results, help young people set and achieve goals, boost self-confidence, reduce truancy rates and at risk behaviours such as substance abuse. Through these community-focused, life changing, role modelling and mentoring programmes, our young people develop life skills and confidence – empowered to find their purpose and direction in life.

Since 1995 we’ve had over 350,000 young people through our programmes and are helping over 27,000 children each year to become their own heroes.

Making a difference:

Doing good is one thing. Being able to track the difference we make is another. Through extensive, ongoing research we know for a fact that Graeme Dingle Foundation programmes;

• Improve attitudes and behaviour
• Improve academic results
• Help young people set and achieve their goals
• Boost self-confidence
• Reduce truancy rates and at risk behaviours (eg substance abuse)
• Help young people feel more positive about the future