Mrs Jacinta Krefft, QSM, of Waikanae, for services to youth
Jacinta Krefft helps troubled youth and their families as coordinator of ‘Challenge for Change’ (C4C), an early-intervention programme for youths aged 9 to 13 with moderate to high needs including depression, low academic results and low self-esteem, who are matched with trained mentors.
Across 18 years, the programme has benefitted more than 400 young people.
Alongside C4C is the Te Awhi Parenting Programme, which supports the parents of young people in the C4C programme. Mrs Krefft published ‘Feather on the Water’, ‘The Journey Journal’ and ‘Song from the Rubble’, resources for schools and organisations to develop similar mentoring programmes.