The PYDA

We are so lucky to have a crack team of Champions who are experienced in Positive Youth Development. Each of them is well practised at bringing the concepts of PYDA to life and moulding the trainings to suit the needs of each  group as required.

This project is all about connecting those in positions that impact young people, either directly or indirectly with those who are practitioners in youth development.

There is no cookie cutter approach here, each training is adaptable, collaborative and practical.Unsure if you fit the target? Get in touch and have a chat.

Positive Youth Development (PYD) is a general approach. Positive Youth Development in Aotearoa (PYDA) incorporates the same core principles but is uniquely tailored to the cultural and societal context of New Zealand. It includes a strong emphasis on Māori values and practices, recognizing the importance of cultural identity, community connection, and the collective well-being of young people.

In Aotearoa, PYD often involves collaboration with indigenous communities and integrates concepts like whānau (extended family) support and holistic development. By blending general PYD principles with the specific cultural and community contexts of Aotearoa, this approach aims to create more effective and relevant support systems for the youth in New Zealand.

PYDA training can benefit a wide range of individuals and organisations working with young people, including youth workers, educators, social workers, community leaders, and policymakers. It can also be valuable for parents, caregivers, mentors and coaches who play significant roles in young people's lives.

The benefits of PYD training include enhancing participants' knowledge and skills in working effectively with young people, improving their ability to create supportive and empowering environments, fostering positive youth outcomes, and contributing to the overall well-being of communities.

Implementing PYD principles involves integrating them into policies, practices, and programs that support young people's development. It's also important to recognise what you are already doing!

Our trainings are specifically designed to help you apply these principles into your specific work, context and community and identify what you are already doing. . If you are excited about the potential of Positive Youth Development, but you’re not sure what the next steps are to deepen your practice, we are here to help.

Currently, we are really lucky to have the support of the Wayne Francis Charitable Trust to subsidise training locally, but if you are outside of greater Christchurch, you may still be able to access our training at a discounted rate. Check out our pricing tool to find out what it might cost to have us host a PYDA Training at your workplace or organisation.

We are competitively priced with other training providers nationally and all money goes back into the development and rollout of more training. So it's a win win!

Positive youth development is an approach that focuses on nurturing young people's strengths and abilities, promoting their healthy development, and fostering their positive engagement with their communities. It emphasises building upon young people's assets rather than solely addressing their deficits.

PYD is crucial because it equips young people with the skills, resources, and support they need to thrive and contribute positively to society. It helps them develop a sense of competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring, which are essential for their overall well-being.

All of our training sessions dive deep into the Outcomes and Approaches outlined in our key resource: the PYDA and then overlay this framework to your context. These topic areas are, briefly:

Yes. The PYDA framework resource Weaving Connections - Tūhonohono Rangitahi is a research-backed and evidence-based document. In the creation of the current edition two research agencies, The Collaborative Trust and Ihi Research reviewed the text to ensure all statements are supported by research.