The Rangatahi-Led Fund is a new fund from Otago Community Trust supporting rangatahi-led projects across Otago. Four groups of rangatahi have been established across Otago, each taking the lead on the fund for their area.
Up to $100,000 is available under the fund, with the North Otago, South Otago, Dunedin and Central Otago groups all having up to $25,000 to fund rangatahi-led projects in their area.
We are so proud to share with you the rangatahi-led projects that have been funded in each area of Otago and over time we will be able to share with you what each of these awesome projects has achieved.
In total ten applications were received in Ōtepoti Dunedin with 8 youth-led initiatives recieving grants totalling $25,000.
The funded initiatives include:
Passion, Pitch, Enrich (Transition to Work Trust) - $3,000
Passion, Pitch, Enrich is a one day show for you to showcase your passion in 3 minutes and receive further support in the form of resources, mentorship or connections. Think Shark Tank meets the Arts. Pitch Your Passion Youth Event (innov8hq.com)
Hold on to Your Friends - $4,000
Creating a “Flat Chat” video series to be released via YouTube and other social media platforms to spark a conversation around student safety in Dunedin Hold On To Your Friends (@hotyf.otago)
Rangatahi Events at Yours (Blue Oyster Arts Trust) - $4,100
A series of three all ages gigs to be held at the venue "Yours” in Dunedin's CBD. Yours (@yours_otepoti)
Dunedin Pride Youth Ball (Dunedin Pride) - $4,500
A ball for under 18 queer and gender diverse rangatahi. Dunedin Pride (@dunedinpride)
Wheako Fair (Greater Green Island Community Network) - $500
A group of 9 Concord Primary students who are working with youth GGICN Youth Worker to run a fair for students at their school.
Multicultural Intelligence Development (Otago Girls High School) - $3,400
An event to teach/train high school girls to understand and respond to complex, multicultural situations. Including speakers and cultural performances.
Youth Networking and Dialogue Session (Pakistan Association of Otago) - $2,500
A networking session between youth, senior civil servants and leaders in the private sector. Aims to foster collaboration and exchange of ideas between youth and experienced professionals.
TANK – Trans and nonbinary kids (Able Minds Southern) - $3,000
TANK is a safe space for trans and gender diverse youth to connect, the funding is for games and resources and speakers for their regular TANK meetings
Out of a pool of ten applications, five impactful Waitaki youth-led projects have been selected to receive grants totalling $20,420. The funded initiatives include:
Waitaki Boys Running 72 (Waitaki Boys High School) - $1,420
Organising a community event like Relay for Life to raise awareness for men's mental health. The event will feature a guest speaker, food, and entertainment, with teams walking and running for 24 hours.
Flowy Jump Track in Herbert Forest (North Otago Mountain Biking) - $5,000
Creating a mountain bike track suitable for children and young people. The rangatahi will also be involved in designing and building the track, allowing them to learn new skills.
Friday Night Games Night (Oamaru Youth Centre) - $4,000
Providing equipment and resources to facilitate weekly games nights for rangatahi at the Oamaru Youth Centre, promoting social interaction.
Te Kura Manaaki (Te Whare Koa Charitable Trust) - $5,000
Organising events to teach tikanga and te reo to other tamariki, fostering whanaungatanga through sports, waiata, kemu, and promoting a deeper understanding of Māori culture.
SNCO Jackpots Equipment (Strath Taieri A&P Sociecty) - $5,000
Acquiring equipment (bending poles and roping dummy) for youth Jackpots events and training, enhancing skill development opportunities.
Our South Otago roopu funded two awesome initiatives to support to benefit rangatahi in the Clutha region, inlcuding:
Creating a space for young people at Te Pou O Mata-Au (Clutha Community Hub Charitable Trust) - $5000
Creating a place/space for young people to connect and hang out in the new Te Pou O Mata-Au to give opportunities for youth to develop their own groups or use the space for whatever youth led project they may be a part of that do not have their own allocated space.
William Pike Challenge Group (Rosebank Primary School) - $2,500
A program for students to learn more about themselves and to push themselves outside their comfort zone. The challenge is in three parts, Physical Challenge, Passion Project and Community Service.
Six applications were received for Central Otago and 4 youth-led projects had grants approved totalling $14,400.
The funded initiatives include:
Dunstan Legacy Project (Dunstan High School) - $2,000
A student-led initiatve to address food inequity through a lunch and breakfast program called "Whawhai Matekai" which means fighting hunger.
Rodeo Youth Camp (NZ Rodeo Cowboys Association) - $5,000
The youth committee of the NZRCA are coordinating a three day youth camp with rangatahi from both Australia and New Zealand, with clinics with carefully selected coaches, aiming to broaden their education, knowledge and social circle.
Cromwell Presbyterian Youth Group (Cromwell Presbyterian Church) - $2,400
To support weekly activties of the youth group and regular camps and meetings with other youth groups in the region.
Upper Clutha Youth Council (Kahu Youth) - $5000
Contribution towards a mural in the new Kahu Youth Centre. Rangatahi will be invovled in all aspects of the mural design and painting through weekend art workshops.