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Young Leaders
Resilience, Contribution and Influence
"From the first camp I went to I always wanted to go back for more because it's such a great environment to be around. Youth Encounter really inspired me to become my best self meaning that I've become a young leader to inspire other young people to do the same."
- Caleb
At Youth Encounter, we believe leadership is not about status or position — it is about identity, responsibility, contribution, influence, and becoming the kind of person who positively impacts others. Through experiential learning, mentoring, practical responsibility, adventure, faith, and community, we empower young people to grow in confidence, resilience, purpose, and leadership.
Our Young Leader Programmes create clear and intentional pathways for young people to progress from belonging and participation, to self-leadership, into contribution, to transformational influence. Grounded in Youth Encounter’s Live Life Wide Open framework and F.A.C.E culture, these pathways help young people discover who they are, develop practical life and leadership skills, and contribute meaningfully within their communities.
LLWO Foundations
From participation to self-leadership
Young people who need confidence, belonging, life skills, and self-leadership foundations (9–24 yrs), asking "how can I lead myself?”
Young Leaders Mahi Lab
From self-leadership to contribution
Young people growing through practical responsibility, volunteering, employability, and contribution experiences (14–24 yrs), asking “how can I contribute meaningfully?”
LLWO Leadership Track
From contribution to influence
Young leaders intentionally pursuing deeper identity, faith, discipleship, and personal growth (17+ yrs), asking “who am I called to influence?”
Young people in our Young Leaders Pathways develop...
LLWO Foundations Course
Building confidence, belonging & self-leadership
The LLWO Foundations Course is an 8-week experiential self-leadership journey designed to help young people grow in confidence, resilience, emotional awareness, and direction through challenge-based learning and the Live Life Wide Open framework.
Positioned within Youth Encounter’s Young Leaders pathway, this preventative programme supports young people before they reach crisis point — creating a safe and empowering environment where they can discover who they are, build healthy mindsets, and learn practical tools for life.
"I have much more confidence. I am not antisocial anymore. I am not afraid to talk to new people.” - Participant
At Youth Encounter, we believe leadership begins with learning to lead yourself well. Using experiential learning and a cognitive behavioural approach, we help young people build confidence, resilience, emotional awareness, and practical self-leadership skills through challenge, reflection, and positive connection.
Rather than classroom-based learning, participants grow through:
practical experiences
reflection and discussion
positive challenge
supportive relationships
experiential learning
growth mindset development
cognitive behavioural approaches
The LLWO Foundations Course helps young people better understand:
their thoughts
emotions
behaviours
choices
values
direction in life
Suitable For
Young people aged 9–24 years who:
need greater confidence and belonging
struggle with motivation or direction
learn best through practical experiences
would benefit from emotional resilience and self-leadership development
show emerging leadership potential
The LLWO Foundations Course is the starting point of the Youth Encounter Young Leaders pathway — helping young people move from participation to self-leadership, and from self-leadership toward contribution, purpose, and influence.
Learn to lead yourself well — and live life wide open.
Young people will develop:
✅ Confidence & self-worth
✅ Belonging & positive connection
✅ Emotional awareness & resilience
✅ Growth mindset & healthy thinking
✅ Responsibility & decision-making skills
✅ Communication & teamwork
✅ Courage & perseverance
✅ Direction, purpose & self-leadership
Delivery Options
Small Group LLWO Foundations Course;
8 participants per cohort
2 facilitators
3-hour weekly sessions
8-week programme
1-on-1 LLWO Foundations Course;
2-hour weekly sessions
8-week programme
Individualised facilitation and support
How to engage?
Make a referral (see button below) and we will be in touch!
"At Youth Encounter I love the way that I can build relationships with new people and feel empowered to be the best version of myself. Youth Encounter has established an amazing environment where I feel very safe and comfortable, but I am also encouraged to explore outside of my comfort zone.” - Young Leader
Young Leaders Mahi Lab
Practical contribution, responsibility & employability
Mahi Lab Features;
Real-world volunteering opportunities
Event and programme support roles
Community contribution projects
Work readiness coaching and mentoring
Practical responsibility and leadership development
Careerforce Level 3 Youth Leadership qualification pathway
Supported pathways into employment, volunteering, and future leadership opportunities
"I now have a business with 10 employees!! It's still stressful but I'm able to manage the stresses a lot better now." - Participant
Who This Is For
Young Leaders Mahi Lab is ideal for:
Young people 15-24 years old wanting practical leadership and employability experience
Rangatahi needing confidence, responsibility, and work-readiness development
Neurodiverse or practical learners who thrive through hands-on experiences
Young people exploring future education, volunteering, or employment pathways
Schools, whānau, and agencies seeking supported employability pathways
Young people wanting to contribute positively within community environments
Young Leaders Mahi Lab is Youth Encounter’s practical contribution and employability pathway designed to help young people grow through meaningful participation, responsibility, volunteering, and real-world experiences. Through hands-on mahi, leadership opportunities, and mentoring support, participants develop confidence, transferable life skills, work readiness, teamwork, communication, and a stronger sense of contribution and purpose within their community.
This pathway intentionally creates opportunities for a wide range of young people, including those who thrive in practical, relational, and experiential learning environments. Young people are empowered to discover their strengths while contributing meaningfully through supporting programmes, events, projects, hospitality, media, facilities, and community initiatives.
Young Leaders Mahi Lab also creates pathways toward employment and future opportunities through practical leadership experiences, volunteering, coaching, and recognised learning opportunities such as the Careerforce Level 3 Youth Leadership qualification pathway.
Through practical contribution and responsibility, young people develop identity, ownership, resilience, belonging, and confidence as they learn that leadership is not only about position — but about serving, contributing, and positively impacting others.
From disengaged, uncertain, or lacking direction → to young people contributing meaningfully, developing practical skills, and stepping confidently toward employment and future opportunities.
Young people participating in Young Leaders Mahi Lab develop:
Practical employability and workplace readiness skills
Increased confidence, responsibility, and ownership
Real-world volunteering and leadership experience
Communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills
Increased motivation toward employment, education, or training pathways
Greater resilience, consistency, and work ethic
Stronger sense of purpose and contribution within community
Leadership through service and practical responsibility
Transferable life skills applicable to future employment opportunities
Confidence in their strengths, abilities, and future direction
LLWO Leadership Track
A transformational journey of identity, purpose, faith, and influence
The Live Life Wide Open (LLWO) Leadership Track is Youth Encounter’s transformational leadership and discipleship journey for young leaders aged 17+ who are ready to grow deeper in identity, faith, character, and influence.
This is more than a leadership programme.
It is a journey of becoming.
Built on Youth Encounter’s Live Life Wide Open philosophy, developed by Mary Wanhill, and grounded in our F.A.C.E culture, the LLWO Leadership Track develops courageous, servant-hearted young leaders through mentoring, spiritual formation, adventure, practical leadership experiences, reflection, and authentic community.
Young leaders journey together through camps, events, volunteering, mentoring, leadership intensives, and real-world responsibility while being challenged to grow in confidence, resilience, emotional maturity, faith, and purpose.
At the heart of the journey is the belief that leadership begins with understanding who you are and learning to live from that foundation with courage, humility, integrity, and love for others.
Through experiential learning and authentic community, young leaders are empowered to:
discover identity and purpose
strengthen faith and spiritual foundations
grow in resilience and emotional maturity
develop leadership and communication skills
learn servant-hearted leadership
positively influence others and culture
step into meaningful contribution and responsibility
build confidence through real-life leadership opportunities
The LLWO Leadership Track creates a strong sense of belonging while also challenging young leaders to step outside their comfort zones, embrace growth, and become positive influences within their communities.
Pathway Features
Leadership mentoring and coaching
Leadership camps and retreats
Spiritual formation and discipleship
Adventure and experiential leadership challenges
Community service and volunteering opportunities
Facilitation and mentoring pathways
Leadership reflection and personal growth
Practical leadership responsibility within Youth Encounter programmes and events
From uncertainty, insecurity, or passive participation → to courageous, faith-filled young leaders living with purpose, influence, resilience, and a heart to serve others.
"I am being pushed out of my comfort zone to have a wider impact on this generation to live life wide open.” - Participant
This pathway is ideal for young people who:
want to grow personally and spiritually
are passionate about leadership and community impact
want mentoring and deeper discipleship
are exploring calling and purpose
want to volunteer and lead within Youth Encounter
are willing to challenge themselves and grow through experience
Young leaders participating in the LLWO Leadership Track develop:
stronger identity, confidence, and purpose
servant-hearted leadership capability
practical ministry and volunteering experience
leadership, mentoring, and facilitation skills
resilience, responsibility, and emotional growth
deeper faith and spiritual formation
belonging, connection, and positive community influence
“Youth Encounter empowers me to step out in courage and faith to unleash my full potential.” - Young Leader
Leadership Journey Investment: $3,000 per participant for 12 months
(funding support and sponsorship opportunities available)
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