A youth programme has been launched in the Bay to help Year-9 students take their first step into secondary school.

The Wright Family Foundation announced it will support the Tauranga branch of the Graeme Dingle Foundation, formerly Foundation for Youth Development, with a $100,000-a-year contribution for three years.

Wright Family Foundation chief executive Chloe Wright and Graeme Dingle Foundation Bay of Plenty regional manager Dan Allen-Gordon. Photo: Matt Leamy/Blue Chilli.

The funds are higher than any private supporter and will enable the Graeme Dingle Foundation to establish its Stars programme.

Using a mentoring model and matching trained Year-12 and 13 students with pupils in Year-9, the teens work together on a number of projects from adventure camp, community adventure and charitable ventures.

Younger students have a chance to build positive relationships, integrity and resilience for the world ahead as they move into secondary school. For the senior students they have a chance to develop their leadership, time management, planning and communication skills.

About 550 youths are able to take part in the programme, with resources made possible by the Wright Family Foundation.

Regional manager Dan Allen-Gordon is overwhelmed by the Wright Family Foundation packing the programme.

'The ongoing support from the Wright Family Foundation will enable us to transform a lot of young lives. We've wanted to bring Stars to the region for a number of years, to develop and connect students in that transitional period of their lives.”

In the 21 years since it was established, the Graeme Dingle Foundation has enabled 150,000 Kiwi youths to reach their full potential, through various school-partnered programmes. These are aimed at building self-esteem, self-confidence and crucial life skills.

The Bay of Plenty arm, developed in 2004, currently runs the Kiwi Can and Project K programmes in schools throughout the region and is helping more than 2000 youngsters each year.

Kiwi Can is tailored to primary school pupils, aged five to 12. Values such as integrity and respect, delivered in a fun-filled learning environment, are the aim of this programme.

Project K is a 14-month course designed for Year-10 students, focussed on building confidence, teaching life skills, as well as promoting good health and a positive attitude through activities such as mentoring and outdoor adventures.

It's these core ethics that struck a chord with the Wright Family Foundation, whose world view fits perfectly with the messages behind what the Graeme Dingle Foundation is trying to achieve.

'Nurturing our future generations through the power of education – in all its forms – is the very reason why the Wright Family Foundation was established,” says co-founder Chloe Wright.

'We feel passionately about giving children from all walks of life opportunities to explore, question and learn more about their environment.

'Respect, positive relationship building and self-confidence are all values the foundation holds true.

"It's how we were raised, how we have raised our children and how we hope to raise the nation's youth through our work with organisations such as the Graeme Dingle Foundation.”

The Stars programme will begin in the Bay of Plenty from 2017.