Future Leaders – Inspiring Stories

The Future Leaders Programme is run by Inspiring Stories – a charitable trust operating nationwide with the vision to see every young New Zealander unleash their potential to change the world. Inspiring Stories has supported more than 9,000 young New Zealanders to build their capability and confidence, and their ideas to make a difference.  

The Future Leaders Programme is run with strong connections to the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs, local councils, not for profit organisations, Iwi & Hapu services, businesses, and communities. The programme supports young people aged 16-25 in rural and provincial New Zealand to build their entrepreneurship and leadership capability – including teamwork and community engagement, development skills.  

The programme has a big focus on project-based learning, supporting young people to turn their ideas into reality and make a difference and impact in their community and on a global level. In 2021, the programme runs in Ōpōtiki, Kawerau, Whakatāne, Kaikohe, Whangārei, and Greymouth.  

Future Leaders Coaches, work part-time with support from the Programme Manager (based in Wellington) to coordinate and deliver the FL programme supporting young people in local rural communities. The coaches provide one-on-one coaching & mentoring, schedule meetings with local Mayors and relevant councillors, coordinate and facilitate and deliver local workshops and events, and work closely with the other coaches to coordinate regional hui and support the community to seek solutions to localised issues identified by and with community and rangatahi. 

KEY OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 

• Connections – better connected to a community of support 
• Knowledge – better understanding of future challenges (social, environmental, economic) 
• Capability – increased entrepreneurship and leadership skills 
• Action – working as a team to either build on past projects and/or develop new project(s) and implement to make a positive difference locally 
• Pathways – exploring pathways into entrepreneurship, employment and leadership 

OUR VALUES 

• Leading by example – positive role modelling to influence attitudes and behaviour. 
• Dreaming big – always thinking bigger, better, smarter, and challenging the status quo. 
• Always learning – research informed, evidence-based, inquisitive. 
• Impact driven – evaluating impact and striving to be more effective in everything we do. 
• Building strong partnerships and relationships – he tāngata he tāngata he tāngata. 
• Creativity and innovation – fresh thinking, new perspectives and approaches. 
• Diversity – there is richness in the diversity of people, skills and experiences. 
• Kaitiakitanga – stewardship, guardianship for future generations. 
• Anyone can make a difference.