Kāpiti youth thrive with Zeal

One full-time manager, three part-time coordinators, and a combined 4000 volunteer hours later show that this has been a busy year for Zeal Kāpiti.

A host of programmes designed for local creative Kiwi youths to get involved, stay engaged, and learn skills increased over the past year, emphasising collaboration within the Kāpiti District. Zeal engaged with 31 community leaders and organisations and supported 19 community events.

Kāpiti Coast Councillor and Zeal Kāpiti Committee chair James Cootes says that the level of interest from local college students is indicative that the programme is both necessary and effective.

”I’ve been very impressed with the work Zeal does in our community. It creates pathways connected through creativity from the schools back to the centre. It’s a place where young people can go to express themselves, feel safe, and be valued in a group of their peers.”

Zeal’s youth centre has been approved for an extensive renovation that will realise a long term vision of an equipped home base for the youth development programme in Paraparaumu.

The centre should be completed by mid-2018.