http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.youthencounter.co.nz en-us Fri, 01 May 2026 01:46:01 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/163246/story-of-transformation-liams-story/ 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... Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:55:13 +1200 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post163246 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/163186/story-of-transformation-reids-story/ 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, 07 Apr 2026 16:09:08 +1200 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post163186 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 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/154031/living-life-wide-open-the-lasting-impact-of-youth-encounter/ For over 15 years, Youth Encounter has been walking alongside young people across Aotearoa, creating spaces where they can discover their value, ignite purpose, and build resilience. Founded by Mary and Joel Wanhill in 2009, the movement grew out of their passion to see young people thrive—especially those who, like them, didn’t fit the mould of society’s expectations. What began as camps built around the thrill of dirt biking soon grew into a charitable trust delivering counsell... Tue, 14 Oct 2025 08:47:37 +1300 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post154031 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/152294/liams-story-of-transformation/ At 15 years old, Liam came to Youth Encounter carrying the weight of many things including anger, ADHD and behavioural struggles. Anger often felt like it controlled him, showing up in outbursts, harsh language, and difficulty keeping boundaries. What Liam really wanted was to feel more in control of his emotions and find healthier ways to express what was going on inside. Behind the frustration, though, was a kind and deeply caring young man who often just needed help to channel his energy in a... Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:11:37 +1200 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post152294 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/post/149785/youthjusticecohort/ Every community faces its challenges, and for many young people, the path can become incredibly difficult. Imagine a young person, barely a teenager, already entangled in the youth justice system, facing a future that looks bleak. These are a cohort of tamariki and rangatahi we are referred far too often: young individuals, aged 10-17, who have committed criminal offenses, carrying heavy burdens of problems like family breakdown, trauma, disengagement from education, poverty, addiction, and... Fri, 01 Aug 2025 10:25:39 +1200 http://www.youthencounter.co.nz/blog/#post149785