http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.youthencounter.co.nz en-us Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:06:02 +1300 Rocketspark http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/170920/story-of-transformation-from-fear-of-falling-to-finding-his-way/ When 14-year-old Felix first walked through the doors of Youth Encounter, he was reserved, shy, and uncertain of what to expect. Having recently relocated to Papamoa, he carried the weight of significant life transitions. He presented with high anxiety and relied heavily on a "flight" response; tending to run away or disengage when situations felt overwhelming or difficult. Early on, Felix hid behind barriers. He disengaged from traditional classroom settings, and resisted formal therapeutic exe... Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post170920 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/163246/story-of-transformation-from-anger-to-hope/ Liam is a 10 year old who wanted, even if he could not always express it, to feel good about himself, to feel safe, and to be understood. He had a need for connection, someone he could trust, and a space where he could just be himself without feeling the need to protect or prove anything.At times, prior to his engagement with Youth Encounter, Liam found it difficult to manage his emotions, especially when feeling overwhelmed, insecure, or challenged. When these feelings came up, he would often p... Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post163246 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/165096/riding-waves-transforming-lives/ Over 8 weeks, eight young tāne from Te Puke Intermediate stepped into something much bigger than learning to surf at Pukehina Beach. Together, they stepped into challenge, connection, courage, belonging, and growth.Through Youth Encounter’s Surf Therapy Programme, the boys journeyed through our Live Life Wide Open Track — exploring identity, purpose, hope, resilience, mindset, and emotional wellbeing through experiential learning, mentoring, counselling, and the ocean.Each week they ar... Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post165096 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/164332/marys-live-life-wide-open-blog-youth-happiness-plummeting/ There’s a statistic that has really stopped me in my tracks recently.New Zealand youth now rank near the bottom of the developed world for happiness. According to the 2026 World Happiness findings, New Zealand placed 126th out of 136 countries for youth wellbeing. That means while our country is often seen globally as safe, beautiful, and prosperous, so many of our young people are quietly struggling beneath the surface.And honestly… I don’t think most people realise how serious this is.At... Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post164332 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/163186/story-of-transformation-not-just-dirt-bikes/ Reid is a 14 year old young man who whether he could fully articulate it or not, wanted to feel safe, connected, and confident in who he is. He wanted someone he could trust, a space where he could be heard, and the opportunity to see his true potential.The challenges Reid faced prior to engagement were significant. He had experienced ongoing instability in his home environment, with changes in caregivers and a lack of consistent connection with his biological parents. This created a sense of un... Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post163186 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/163244/marys-live-life-wide-open-blog-from-huts-to-shelters/ I had an experience recently that’s been sitting with me. Joel and I recently went to a camp — not one we run, just attending.Good people with great intentions. But something for me felt off.On arrival we got told where our room was. No real welcome. No sense of what was happening. No one drawing us in. You kind of just had to figure it out and found your own way. We headed to the dinning room around what we through would be breakfast time and worked it out as we went.And I noticed some... Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:16:55 +1200 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post163244 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/163051/from-new-beginnings-to-true-belonging/ When Beth arrived at Summer Blast Camp, she was stepping into something new. Having recently moved to the area, she was eager to find her place. Beth was keen to build friendships, make positive local connections, and discover healthy activities she could enjoy in her new community. She wanted opportunities to try new things, grow in confidence, and feel like she belonged.However, starting fresh in a new place can be challenging. Without established friendships or familiar faces, finding the rig... Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:09:08 +1300 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post163051 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/157953/bradys-journey--choosing-a-new-path-forward/ At just 15 years old, Brady is a young man with enormous potential. He carries big aspirations for his future, including a dream to join the army, and beneath his calm presence is a strength, determination, and drive that becomes clearer each time he chooses to take a positive step forward.But the road to this point hasn’t been easy. Brady has faced a combination of internal and external challenges that made the path to his goals feel difficult to navigate. ADHD, impulsivity, and difficulty re... Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:27:35 +1300 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post157953 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/154579/the-impact-of-long-term-partnerships-riding-towards-hope/ Every young person longs for a future where they belong, where they feel capable, and where they know their life has purpose. Yet for many rangatahi in Whakatāne and across the Eastern Bay of Plenty, anxiety, grief, disconnection, or barriers in mainstream education can cloud that future.Since 2016, Youth Encounter and EastBay REAP Āpiti Hou have partnered together to change that story. Each year, groups of young people step onto the Live Life Wide Open track through our Youth Encounter Dirt B... Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post154579 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/156097/finding-a-new-path-elis-story-of-transformation/ At Youth Encounter, we see transformation happen when young people are given the space to discover who they truly are. Sometimes all it takes is a spark of connection, a bit of courage, and the right kind of support to change direction. That’s exactly what happened for Eli.Before connecting with Youth Encounter, Eli often found himself caught up in the wrong crowd and making choices that led him into trouble. When things got hard, anger and overwhelm would take over, and smoking weed beca... Thu, 13 Nov 2025 09:45:39 +1300 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post156097