Teens Honoured for Turning Lives Around

Ten teenagers from around the country were last night honoured for their achievements at the Foundation for Youth Development’s (FYD) annual Project K Student Excellence Awards at Government House in Auckland.

FYD co-founder, mountaineer Graeme Dingle, says the Awards are an opportunity to acknowledge the students’ accomplishments, many of whom have made massive changes in their lives.

“These young people have been on an epic and life-changing journey, a journey which many adults would find incredibly challenging, yet these kids have grabbed it with both hands and their achievements are remarkable,” he says.

“Frankly, as a nation we simply do not celebrate our young people enough – they must become our priority.”

The students received their award from Her Excellency, Lady Susan Satyanand, Patron of the Foundation for Youth Development and wife of Governor-General, Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand.

During the evening each student presented their journey of self-discovery to a rapt audience which included Lady Susan, as well as Dame Cath Tizard and Sarah Hillary, daughter of Sir Edmund Hillary – one of the first Trustees of Project K.

Auckland recipient, 16-year-old Sarah O’Connor said, “Project K shapes and moulds kids into women and men, it shows them that there is more to life. I went from a kid with a bad attitude to someone that made my family, friends and teachers proud of me.”

The Project K Student Excellence Awards are given to outstanding graduates of Project K who have turned their lives around with the help of the 14-month programme, increasing their self-confidence, life skills, motivation and goals for the future.
This year FYD also introduced a brand new award – the FYD Sir Edmund Hillary Youth Achievement Award – for FYD student alumni who have gone on to achieve in amazing ways, overcoming difficulty and pushing themselves to succeed.

Sarah Hillary presented the inaugural award to winner 19-year-old student, Hamish Carter, from Waikato.

“Since completing Project K four years ago Hamish has shown huge motivation and achievement, topping his visual arts class at school each year following, winning a first-year scholarship to study design at Waikato Institute of Technology and becoming heavily involved in Hamilton Youth Search and Rescue,” she said.

“My father was associated with Project K since its inception through his long-time friendship with Graeme Dingle. It appealed to him because he felt that it was so important for young people to get out and make the most of their lives. I think that my father would have been very pleased to have his name associated with the new award.”
The students spent an activity-packed day in Auckland which included visiting the SPCA Education Centre in Mangere, lunching with the NZ Breakers at SkyCity, travelling up the Sky Tower and culminated in the official awards ceremony in the evening.

FYD currently helps approximately 18,000 young New Zealanders each year via its Kiwi Can, Stars, Project K and MYND programmes. All of the programmes aim to give young people the opportunity to realise their full potential and overcome challenges in order to succeed in life.

List of winners:
Sarah O'Connor, North Shore Shaeden Hohaia, Manukau
Mason Crofskey, Waitakere Paula Fangaloka, Central Auckland
Alex Wilson, Hawkes Bay Jared Monk, Waikato
Shaun Graeme Lindsay, Wellington Grace Dalzell, Bay of Plenty
Caitlyn Cattermole, Christchurch
FYD Sir Edmund Hillary Youth Achievement Award:
Hamish Carter, Waikato

ENDS

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