Project K 2010 Excellence Awards

To Dean Ellwood, Chair of the Foundation for Youth Development and your fellow Board members, Dame Cath Tizard, former Governor-General, Lani French, Project K National Manager, and Sarah Hillary to present the inaugural Sir Edmund Hillary Youth Achievement Award;  very importantly, to Project K Graduates, to your parents, mentors, supporters, and to distinguished guests:  good evening, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

The Foundation for Youth Development is rightly proud of the award recipients this year and, as the Patron, I am delighted to welcome you all and to celebrate these outstanding graduates of the Project K Programme.

This year sees the addition of the Sir Edmund Hillary Youth Achievement Award to a distinguished alumnus of the Project K programme to be presented by Sarah Hillary, the daughter of Sir Ed.

This is the third time we have hosted the awards and Anand is sorry that he cannot join us again tonight as he is speaking at an event in Wellington.  For us it is a highlight of the year.  Government House Auckland is a special place and we are pleased to share it with the exceptional individuals being recognised here tonight.

The Project K programme was founded in 1995 and has been highly successful in steering young people towards a bright future.  In addition to Project K, the Foundation for Youth Development has added the “Kiwis Can”, “Stars” and “Mentoring Youth New Direction” programmes to its services.  There are programmes available for children of all ages, from as young as five years old to young adults of eighteen.

I have been very impressed with the positive, confident and motivated individuals that have been through the Project K programme.  You have achieved something to be very proud of – a sense of self-confidence, courage and good judgement that will help to overcome difficulties and choose your destiny.

The three phases of Project K have each taught you different skills.  The three week Wilderness Adventure will have offered opportunities for goal setting, teamwork, perseverance, self-reliance and self-knowledge.  The 10 day Community Challenge will have shown you how to use those lessons to undertake a project and contribute to and get to know your community.  Finally, the year-long Project K Mentoring will have provided you with additional support to help you achieve your goals, a wise ear to listen and help in strengthening and applying the things you have learned.

I would now like to extend a big thank you to all those who have played a vital role in the programme including the staff, volunteers, mentors, sponsors and, of course, your parents who have been so supportive.

May I take this opportunity to thank Graeme and Jo-anne who had the vision and dedication to equip young people for the future and determination when assisting them to reach their potential.

The Foundation for Youth Development's programmes help more than 18,000 young people each year to build confidence, and become healthy positive contributors to society .

I think that the former US President Franklin Roosevelt made an insightful observation when he said:-
“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”

Anand and I both extend our congratulations to the Project K finalists here this evening.  You will have learnt the meaning of Sir Edmund Hillary’s thought on the bottom of this scarf which all our athletes wore at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games and which spurred them on:
“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.”

In being chosen for an excellence award, you have displayed character and effort during the Programme.  Motivation, determination, and self-confidence are all qualities that great leaders possess and are all things that you should cling to.

I wish you well in your own future goals and trust that you will remember the key things you have learned.

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.