Ensuring Sustainable and Measurable Outcomes are in Place
At Youth Encounter, our mission is clear: to create a safe space where both staff and clients can unleash their God-given potential. This mission fuels our vision of seeing the young people of Aotearoa thrive with purpose, and hope in their future. Central to achieving this vision are our four key objectives, which guide our efforts, measure our progress, and ensure that we remain focused on what truly matters — impact.
"Over half of all New Zealanders aged 15-24 experience anxiety or depression – and numbers of young people with moderate to high distress have nearly doubled since 2016/17, a recent Ministry of Health survey shows." - Mental Health Foundation
Impact Focused: The Heart of Our Mission
Our second key objective, being Impact Focused, is foundational to how we deliver on our mission. We are committed to ensuring that every dollar invested in Youth Encounter translates into sustainable and measurable outcomes. This means that the quality of our program delivery is directly proportionate to the income streams we receive, ensuring that we maximize the impact of every resource.
Measuring What Matters
To achieve sustainable and measurable outcomes, we use a rigorous outcome tracking system that monitors client progress against set targets. This system allows us to regularly review our programs, make necessary adjustments, and assess the long-term impact of our work beyond immediate results. By doing so, we ensure that our programs are not just meeting needs in the short term but are also creating lasting change.
Guided by Evidence, Driven by Change
Our programs are built on a strong evidence-based framework, designed to facilitate intentional change in the lives of the youth we serve. At the core of this approach is Youth Encounter’s own theory of change model, the Live Life Wide Open Track. This model parallels life learnings with activity-based experiences, engaging individuals in a growth mindset and guiding them towards greater possibilities.
Capturing the Outcomes
The outcomes of Youth Encounter’s work is captured using a Results-Based Accountability (RBA) model and a Client Relationship Management (CRM) system Exess. These tools provide a clear picture of the difference we are making in the lives of young people and their families, all through a strength-based approach. Our strategic outcomes are meticulously measured with indicators designed to assess whether our clients are truly better off because of the programs we deliver.
These outcomes are not just about changing behaviours but about shifting mindsets—dealing with what lies beneath the surface (as illustrated by the Iceberg Model). By focusing on these deeper issues, we create lasting, meaningful change that resonates across all areas of our clients' lives.
Social Impact: The Difference We Are Making
At Youth Encounter NZ, our impact extends beyond the individual lives of our clients—it resonates at the community and national levels. Through our commitment to Population Accountability, we focus on enhancing the well-being of entire populations. Our programmes are designed to not only transform the lives of the young people we serve but also contribute to the mental health and vitality of communities across Aotearoa. By facilitating positive outcomes within individuals, we drive broader social impact, creating a ripple effect that benefits society as a whole.
Our Impacts;
Impact 1 – Improved Mental Wellbeing & Healthy Whānau Dynamics: Improved mental well-being and strengthened social connections fostering healthier whānau dynamics: This impact corresponds to our strategic outcome of shifting from low self-worth to a more secure identity. Through modules focusing on building self-awareness, resilience, and social skills, we guide young people to develop healthier relationships with their whānau, fostering a supportive environment that promotes mental well-being.
80% said Youth Encounter is having a 'high Impact' and 20% 'some impact' in this area. None stated that Youth Encounter was not having an impact in this area.
"Youth encounter is something our kid looks forward to and has been so beneficial for him and our whanau" - Parent
Impact 2 – Thriving Communities Grounded in Positive Values: Increased motivation to engage in healthy cultural values, nurturing thriving communities: This outcome is a result of helping young people find purpose and direction in life. Our programme modules encourage exploration of personal values, goal setting, and community involvement, which nurture a sense of belonging and drive within young people to contribute positively to their communities.
From our community impact survey, 85% said high impact, 10% some impact and 5% said they had not seen any impact.
"The students see the impact outdoor activities can have on them. Also to be able interact and practice displaying positive values with each other." - School Teacher
Impact 3 – Active Contributors & Role Models in Society: Enabled to actively contribute to society and serve as inspirational role models for others: Addressing the feeling of despondency and hopelessness, our modules instil a forward-focused mindset. By empowering young people with skills and confidence, we enable them to become active, inspirational members of society, breaking free from negative cycles and setting a positive example for others.
70% said they had seen a high level of impact 3, with 25% some impact and 5% low.
"I recently had a conversation with my young person about dreams and goals. This wasn’t something they had ever talked about before Youth Encounter. It helps to give them hope for their future." - Social Worker
Impact 4 – Sustained Personal Growth, Skills, and Freedom: Empowered with confidence to acquire and apply skills, fostering sustained personal freedom and growth: This impact relates to overcoming a generational cycle of poverty through resilience. Our modules focus on skill acquisition, personal development, and work readiness, providing young people with the tools they need for ongoing transformation and independence.
This was our best result with 85% reporting a high level of impact and 15% some impact, meaning 100% agreed that Youth Encounter is fulfilling its mission and heading towards it vision of seeing all young people of Aotearoa NZ empowered to thrive.
"We have children who attend Youth Encounter that have gone on to engage more actively in their own lives. They learn and grow in confidence and develop a range of new skills that help them with this. We know YE is actively engaged and so supportive of each student they take on and make such positive changes with them." - School Teacher
Our impact survey said...
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Right now, more than half of young New Zealanders are struggling with mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. But with your help, we can change that.
For as little as $10 a week, you can provide life-changing support to a young person in need—helping them build resilience, find purpose, and Live Life Wide Open. Together, we can turn despair into hope, and hopelessness into opportunity.
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