Aiding youth development through Raise Up - run by youth for youth
Raise Up is The Y's youth development programme and is unique because it is run by youth, for youth. Every year The Y re-invests over $350,000 into local communities through our youth development programme and activities.
Raise Up aims to empower young people to foster a sense of pride and respect for themselves and the communities in which they live in, through personal ownership and leadership development. Since starting in 2002, Raise Up has grown to provide opportunities in 11 different communities . Each location has a crew made up of young people from the local community. Crews are tasked with identifying the needs of young people in their community and responding with events, workshops, activities and initiatives.
Our local Raise Up crews deliver some of Auckland's largest youth events including 'Walk The Line', the only youth produced fashion show at New Zealand Fashion Week. The programme has grown to engage and attracted over 15000 young people every year. The young people involved in the programme have given back over 18000 hours of voluntary community service in the last 12 months.
Importantly Raise Up is a drug and alcohol-free programme providing a safe environment for young people to test their personal boundaries and develop as individuals.