At just 15 years old, recent Project K alumnus Jackson Douglas is already showing how far confidence, encouragement and the right support can take a young person.
Last week, Jackson joined Project K Coordinator Tomas to speak with the team at LION, a Champion Partner of the Graeme Dingle Foundation. Together, they shared an inside look at Project K, the difference it makes for young people, and the important role mentors play throughout the programme.
Tomas is now leading his third Project K cohort in Auckland and says it is his favourite Graeme Dingle Foundation programme because of the transformations he witnesses.
Project K works intensively with a small group of 12 students over the course of a year. Through three key stages—including a wilderness adventure, community challenge and mentoring—the programme helps young people build confidence, resilience, life skills and a stronger sense of self-belief.
Jackson completed Project K last year and spoke openly to the LION team about how much the experience changed him.
Before joining the programme, Jackson said he lacked confidence and was still trying to understand who he was and what he believed in. When he was first invited to take part, he was unsure whether Project K was for him.
“I didn’t really want to do it at first because I didn’t like going out and doing big things like that,” Jackson explained. “But my mum encouraged me, and Tomas talked to me about it and made it sound really good.”
That decision would become an important turning point.
“It was a life-changing experience,” he said. “I’ve developed the skills to talk and speak publicly with confidence. I wouldn’t be here speaking today if it wasn’t for Project K.”
During the programme, Jackson challenged himself through a range of outdoor activities, including kayaking approximately 13 kilometres, hiking mountains and learning practical skills in the wilderness.
The experience also introduced him to new interests and showed him what he was capable of achieving outside his comfort zone.
“I know how to do so many things outdoors now,” he said. “Before, I didn’t know how to do that stuff, but now I have that experience.”
The lasting impact of a mentor
For Jackson, one of the most meaningful parts of Project K was being matched with his mentor, Harrison.
Although the formal mentoring stage was initially intended to last for the duration of the programme, Jackson and Harrison have continued their connection and developed a genuine friendship.
“We’ve spent so much time together,” Jackson said. “Having him there helped me know I had someone I could rely on—a friend I could talk to. He helped me become a better person, and I helped him become a better person too.”
Jackson and Harrison continue to catch up and plan to spend time together before Harrison leaves for his overseas experience later this year.
Their relationship is a powerful example of what Project K mentoring can become. A mentor is not there to provide all the answers. Instead, they offer encouragement, consistency and a trusted connection as a young person works towards their goals.
Jackson finished his presentation with a clear recommendation for anyone offered the opportunity to participate in Project K.
“If I got the opportunity to do Project K again, I would do it 100 times,” he said. “It was so good, and I truly recommend it.”
We are incredibly proud of Jackson for sharing his story with such honesty and confidence, and we are grateful to Tomas for his ongoing commitment to supporting young people through Project K.
A special thank you also goes to the team at LION for welcoming Jackson and Tomas and for continuing to champion the work of the Graeme Dingle Foundation. Support from partners like LION helps us provide young people with positive experiences, trusted relationships and opportunities to discover what they are capable of.
Watch Jackson’s full speech below: