Our Young People’s Stories
Here we share the stories of our young people throughout Aotearoa who have had their lives changed by Graeme Dingle Foundation programmes.
Brooke's Story
Brooke, a Stars student from Rutherford College in 2013 and now a member of our National Youth Advisory Group shares her experience with our Stars programme and how that led her to where she is today.
Watch Brooke's Story
Connor's Story
Connor McIellan participated in Project K in 2021. Previously lacking confidence, Project K helped him discover his abilities and achieve things he never thought possible. With the support of his mentor, Connor developed better social skills and self-confidence.
Watch Connor's Interview
Jack's Story
Jack says “pre-Toroa Jack” would not believe it if he could see him now: “He would say ‘no way that’s happened! You legend!’”. His advice to other young people not sure about their future path? “Do the course. It will set you up and show you how easy it really is to give things a go. Then don’t look back, just trust your instincts and keep going forward”.
Read Jack's Story
Jaleel's Story
I believe that with the help of Amy and the Graeme Dingle Foundation I was able to find myself again and through our weekly catchups, whether it was doing one of our favourite walks/hikes or even our overnight tramps with other Project K mentors/mentees.
Read Jaleel's Story
Ayla's Story
I will never be anything... I am never going to go anywhere in life... I’m a failure... I’m ugly... No one likes me... I shouldn’t be here... I should just die. All of the thoughts I just shared were ones that I felt frequently up until I was selected for Project K.
Read Ayla's Story
Kaden's Story
Before Project K I was just starting at One Tree Hill and it was pretty challenging. I wasn’t really involved in class or school activities. Disinterested with most things and a bit overwhelmed I started to struggle with schoolwork and deadlines. Some time during that first year, I was invited to join Project K.
Read Kaden's Story
Ethan's Story
At the start of 2020, Ethan realised doing something was better than doing nothing so he signed up for the Career Navigator Community programme through the Graeme Dingle Foundation in Wellington.
Read Ethan's Story
Cate's Story
I joined Career Navigator at the beginning of Year 13. At the start of the programme, I was real nervous, I was struggling with depression and anxiety and it was getting in the way of life in general.
Read Cate's Story
James' Story
As a natural introvert, James was very unsure of himself and the abilities he brought to the table. Whilst there was hesitancy, being consistent and committed to the Career Navigator Ngā Ara Whetū programme, paid off.
Read James' Story
Mila's Story
I’d have been a fool not to take the opportunity for kai and friendships. So, I did. I started my wilderness adventure with Project K.
Read Mila's Story
Paige Auton's Career Navigator Journey
Paige Auton reflects on her experience in Career Navigator and the success she's had since taking part. Looking back, I am so grateful for the opportunity that was given to me by the Graeme Dingle Foundation.
Read Paige's Story
Ayush's Story
Stars Peer Mentoring helped me immensely in what I’ve been doing now, because it was one of the first formative experiences that I had to give back and to serve others, that experience and the skills I gained from that has helped me so much, in terms of, what I do now.
Watch Ayush's Story
Vaitoelau's Story
My name is Vaitoelau Ah Chee. I joined the Project K Community in 2019 and am proud to be a graduate for 2020. My journey was tough and challenging but most of all the most satisfying journey of my life that I will never forget.
Read Vaitoelau's Story
Olivia's Stars Peer Mentor Journey
It was no surprise Olivia became a Stars Peer Mentor in 2015 when given the opportunity to sign up after being mentored by great role models when she was starting as a year 9 at Rutherford High School.
Read Olivia's Story
Kai's Story
It often takes an incredible amount of bravery and courage to step into the unknown. For some of our Project K students, their self-efficacy and resiliency is so low that when offered a life changing opportunity, the prospect is so daunting they are overwhelmed and decline.
Read Kai's Story
Brylee Comer overcomes her shyness
It’s strange to remember I used to be so shy. Going into a shop and ordering by myself, was too much. I really didn’t talk to anyone I didn’t know. Even when I got the call to say I’d been accepted into Project K, I considered declining. Being with a group of people I didn’t know – it all sounded too much for me.
Read Brylee's Story
Sara Kaianga's Project K Journey
It was pretty cool realising I could have independence and do things for myself! Before Project K I was quite shy. When I saw an ambassador speaking at our school I loved her confidence. She said she did lots of speaking and promoting the programme and I was so impressed.
Read Sara's Story
Acer's Story
When it was dark enough for the streetlights to turn on my brothers would pick me up from home and we would walk the streets. We always had the urge to feel alive. I wanted to feel like Pete from the movie Green Street Hooligans. We would steal radios and sell them, steal cars and crash them, break windows of homes and cars.
Read Acer's Story
Jess Collins - A young wahine toa
We are extremely proud and pleased to announce that our very own Graeme Dingle Foundation Bay of Plenty Project K alumni Jess Collins received the Prime Minister’s Exemplar Award at this years New Zealand Youth Awards.
Read Jess' story
Stars Programme Opens a New Life for Christine
As a shy refugee arriving in New Zealand from Burma, not able to converse freely in English, Christine Philipo struggled to come out of her shell and enjoy her new life – until she found the answer in the Stars programme run by the Graeme Dingle Foundation.
Read Christine's Story
Brother and Sister Duo – Stars Success!
They are a brother and sister team who came to New Zealand in the midst of tragedy, shy and more comfortable being unnoticed in the background. Now Lahaina and Hawea Solomon, who grew up in Tokoroa, are leaders helping other youth reach their potential and are pursuing their own dreams at university.
Read their story
Paris' Story: From wagging school to succeeding in life
When Paris was in high school she admits she wasn’t the best student or daughter to her teachers or family. During that time her parents were going through a separation and she was failing school and was wagging most days. Paris was having a hard time dealing with her home situation and found it wasn’t easy to focus at school.
Read Paris' Story
Sharonika's Story
Teen Sharonika Prasad used to be scared, of life, of opportunity. She lacked self-confidence. ‘‘I had a negative mind set in which I had beliefs that I would never be successful at anything, with a very low self-esteem. ‘‘I made excuses because I had no motivation and little confidence and I let life pass me by even if it was a wonderful opportunity because I was so afraid of the unknown.’’
Read Sharonika's Story