Project K has three distinct, but complementary stages:

The first stage is an amazing three-week outdoor experience with New Zealand's amazing wilderness as the backdrop. The adventure starts with 10 days at a camp in preparation for a 10-day journey that can involve kayaking, abseiling, tramping, mountain biking and camping. This stage provides personal challenges and develops life skills such as goal setting, teamwork, perseverance, self-reliance and resilience.

The second stage is crucial in helping participants adapt lessons learnt during the Wilderness Adventure back into everyday life. The students spend two weeks exploring the community resources, opportunities and support available in their local area.

They are encouraged to pursue stronger links with their community by meeting with local figures and visiting organisations such as the council, emergency services and marae.

Each group also undertakes a community project to learn the value of giving back, and they set academic, health, fitness and personal goals to achieve within a year.

Mentoring is the third and final stage. Each student is then paired with a screened and trained adult mentor for a year. The mentor supports the student in achieving their self-set goals, provides an objective, friendly ear and helps sustain and strengthen the positive changes achieved in the first two stages.

Mentors attend a training programme and are screened and interviewed, after which they qualify for consideration as Project K mentors.

Throughout the mentor partnership, mentors can expect a strong level of support from Project K, their mentor coordinator and other mentors in their group. Mentors keep in touch with students at least every two weeks. As well as helping their student stay on track with their goals, mentors spend informal time with them. The mentoring journey is aimed at being a fun experience.

For more information on how to become a Project K Mentor please click here