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Young Leaders
Leadership Development, Contribution and Influence
"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
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.
Leadership Foundations
from participation to self-leadership
Young people beginning their leadership journey who need confidence, belonging, life skills, and self-leadership foundations (9–24 yrs), asking "how can I lead myself?”
Young Leaders Mahi
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 becoming and who am I called to influence?”
Young people in our Young Leaders Pathways develop...
Leadership Foundations (9-18yrs)
Building Confidence, Belonging & Self-Leadership
Youth Encounter delivers experiential leadership and wellbeing workshops designed to help students grow in confidence, resilience, teamwork, communication, and self-leadership.
Our activity-based approach creates engaging learning environments where students are challenged to step outside their comfort zones, strengthen peer relationships, and develop practical life and leadership skills.
Ideal for:
Student leadership groups
Year 7–13 cohorts
Alternative educations
Wellbeing programmes
Transition programmes
Youth development initiatives
From disengaged, uncertain, or lacking confidence → to young people who feel connected, capable, resilient, and empowered to positively influence others.
Young people participating in Leadership Foundations develop:
Increased confidence and self-worth
Improved teamwork and communication skills
Greater resilience and emotional awareness
Stronger sense of belonging and connection
Increased participation and engagement at school
Leadership confidence and positive peer influence
Growth mindset and problem-solving skills
Greater responsibility, self-awareness, and self-leadership
Improved motivation, attitude, and willingness to contribute
Practical life skills through experiential learning challenges
Leadership Foundations includes;
Leadership Skills Development Groups
Values & Goal Setting Workshops
Activity-Based Leadership Challenges
Team Building Sessions
Growth Mindset & Resilience Learning
Peer Leadership Opportunities
School Holiday Leadership Programmes
Community Leadership Events
"I have much more confidence. I am not antisocial anymore. I am not afraid to talk to new people.” - Participant
Workshop Options
Half-Day Leadership Experience: $750–$1,200 + travel
Full-Day Leadership Experience: $1,500–$2,500 + travel
Depending on activities, location, and participant numbers.
Contact us to find out more or book a Leadership Foundations workshop session - info@youthencounter.co.nz or 07 218 2113
Leadership Foundations
from participation to self-leadership
Young people beginning their leadership journey who need confidence, belonging, life skills, and self-leadership foundations (9–24 yrs), asking "how can I lead myself?”
Young Leaders Mahi
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 becoming and who am I called to 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
Pathway 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 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 (15-24yrs)
Practical Contribution, Responsibility & Employability
Young Leaders Mahi 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 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 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
Leadership Foundations
from participation to self-leadership
Young people beginning their leadership journey who need confidence, belonging, life skills, and self-leadership foundations (9–24 yrs), asking "how can I lead myself?”
Young Leaders Mahi
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 becoming and who am I called to influence?”
LLWO Leadership Track (17+yrs)
The LLWO (Live Life Wide Open) Leadership Track is Youth Encounter’s transformational leadership and discipleship journey for young leaders pursuing deeper personal, spiritual, and leadership growth. Grounded in identity, faith, servant leadership, purpose, and character formation, this pathway combines mentoring, experiential learning, leadership opportunities, spiritual formation, and practical responsibility to develop courageous, resilient, and purpose-driven leaders.
“Youth Encounter empowers me to step out in courage and faith to unleash my full potential.” - Young Leader
LLWO Leadership Track is built around the belief that leadership begins with becoming — discovering who you are, understanding your God-given value and purpose, and learning to influence others through authenticity, humility, service, and courage. Young leaders are challenged to grow not only in leadership capability, but also in emotional maturity, integrity, resilience, faith, and community impact.
Through camps, events, mentoring, reflection, discipleship, adventure, and leadership intensives, young leaders journey together in a highly relational and experiential environment where leadership is learned through lived experience, contribution, and community. Participants are empowered to step into leadership that positively influences culture, strengthens community, and helps others discover their own potential to Live Life Wide Open.
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
Pathway Features
Leadership mentoring and discipleship
Leadership camps and retreats
Adventure and experiential leadership challenges
Spiritual formation and faith development
Community impact and service opportunities
Facilitation and mentoring pathways
Leadership reflection and personal growth
Volunteer and ministry leadership opportunities
Annual Investment: $3,000 per participant
(funding support and sponsorship opportunities available)
Young leaders participating in the LLWO Leadership Track develop:
Stronger identity, confidence, and sense of purpose
Spiritual growth and deeper Christian faith formation
Courageous, servant-hearted leadership capability
Emotional resilience and greater self-awareness
Increased confidence leading and influencing others
Mentoring, facilitation, and team leadership skills
Stronger sense of belonging, calling, and contribution
Leadership through integrity, humility, and responsibility
Practical ministry, volunteering, and community leadership experience
Confidence to step into future leadership and service opportunities
Who This Is For?
LLWO Leadership Track is ideal for:
Young leaders aged 17+ pursuing deeper personal and spiritual growth
Young people wanting to grow in faith, leadership, and discipleship
Emerging volunteers and future Youth Encounter leaders
Young adults passionate about community impact and serving others
Young people wanting authentic Christian leadership formation
Young leaders seeking mentoring, challenge, belonging, and purpose
Support NZ youth—together, we can make a lasting impact on the next generation.
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