Contact
kiaora@standtall.nz
Stand Tall Community Trust
Creating the conditions for all youth to maximise their potential so that they can build the future they want to see.
Stand Tall Community Trust 148 Durham Street Tauranga 3110 Aotearoa - New Zealand | 
kiaora@standtall.nz
What we do
Stand Tall’s work takes different forms. Some activity involves direct delivery alongside young people and educators. Other work focuses on strengthening pathways, partnerships and shared learning across the wider system. Together, these forms of work support practical capability, clearer transitions and more connected local ecosystems.
How the work shows up
Direct delivery
Direct delivery involves hands-on programmes delivered alongside young people, schools and partners. These experiences focus on building practical and entrepreneurial capabilities through real-world learning, reflection and application. Programmes are shaped with context in mind and support confidence, agency and meaningful next steps in education and work. Across programmes, entrepreneurial capabilities are developed as transferable skills for learning, work and life.
System-level activity
System-level activity focuses on strengthening the conditions around young people’s pathways. The emphasis is on connection, experimentation and learning over time. This includes convening, contributing to and supporting collaborative initiatives that strengthen connection, shared learning and coordination by improving how education, employability and community initiatives connect around young people’s experiences.
The programmes and initiatives below show how the delivery work currently shows up in practice
Onramp Workshops
Onramps is a flexible, entry-level enterprise experience that helps young people explore their strengths, values and interests while learning to think entrepreneurially. Through fast-paced, hands-on activities, participants build confidence, spark ideas, connect with relatable adults and identify practical next steps for their futures.
| Youth Profile | Ages 15-21; in school or community settings; curious about pathways; benefit from relational learning. |
| Programme Focus | Entrepreneurial thinking; identity and strengths; opportunity awareness; next-step readiness. |
| Timeframes | 2-4 sessions; up to 10 hours. |
| Registration | Contact us |
Thrive X
Thrive X is a creative, relationship-based programme for young people wanting to reconnect with learning and discover confidence, purpose and possibility. Through projects, making, practical activities and mentoring, participants develop strengths, build trust, explore identity and shape pathways into learning, work or enterprise.
| Youth Profile | Ages 15–18; keen for a fresh start; prefer experiential, supported environments. |
| Programme Focus | Youth enterprise, capability, identity, confidence |
| Timeframes | 10 weeks / one school term |
| Registration | Contact us for next intake |
YES (Young Enterprise Scheme)
YES is a year-long national programme where Year 12–13 students form a real company, develop a product or service and take it to market. Stand Tall supports schools with events, mentoring, markets and regional coordination, helping students gain enterprise skills, confidence, teamwork experience and connections with local business communities.
| Youth Profile | Ages 15 – 18, senior secondary school |
| Programme Focus | Enterprise creation, teamwork, sales experience and pitches |
| Timeframes | 10 months to completion |
| Registration | Register through your local school |
Enterprise 101
Enterprise 101 is a two-session, 10-hour mini business challenge blending identity, teamwork and hands-on enterprise. Participants explore their values and strengths, learn simple business basics, create and pitch an idea, and connect their learning to real-world pathways. Designed for schools and alternative education settings
| Youth Profile | Ages 15 - 17; mainstream or alternative education. |
| Programme Focus | Identity and strengths; enterprise basics; teamwork; confidence building. |
| Timeframes | 2 - 4 sessions, up to 10 hours. |
| Registration | Contact us |
Techstream (2026 Pilot)
Techstream is a cohort-based pilot supporting rangatahi to build real-world digital and cloud-native capabilities through hands-on learning and contribution. Delivered alongside participants, the programme blends technical skills, collaboration, and open-source practice while exploring emerging workforce pathways and industry connections. Insights from the pilot inform how community, education, and industry can better support future digital capability.
| Youth Profile | 17+ Digitally curious |
| Programme Focus | Applied digital capability |
| Timeframes | 10 week cohort based |
| Registration | Contact us |
These initiatives show how Stand Tall contributes to learning and coordination beyond direct delivery
Connecting the Ecosystem for Youth Enterprise
Stand Tall convenes learning spaces that help the regional ecosystem respond to youth insight. Through Startup Weekends, community conversations, school discovery workshops and cross-sector collaboration, we connect educators, youth services, funders and businesses to align efforts and build a more responsive system for young people.
| Youth Profile | Indirect; improves outcomes for all young people in the region. |
| Timeframes | Ongoing; event-based and project-based cycles. |
| Programme Focus | Systems learning; collaboration; insight sharing; alignment across sectors. |
Startup Weekend Tauranga
Startup Weekend is a 54-hour entrepreneurial experience where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch ideas, form teams, and build real startups from concept to prototype in just one weekend. This high-energy event connects diverse participants with mentors, investors, and fellowinnovators while providing the hands-on experience and networking opportunities needed to turn bold ideas into viable businesses.
| Participant Profile | Everyone is welcome! |
| Timeframe | Friday afternoon to Sunday Afternoon |
| Programme Focus | Ideation, Validation, Business Building, Team Building, Skills development |
| Registration | via ticketing system, once a year. |
Startup Aotearoa
Free Startup Coaching Session for founders who want to turn their big idea into a thriving startup. Access local expert coaches in person or online
| Participant Profile | Startup founders |
| Timeframes | up to 10 free sessions |
| Programme Outcome | clarity, planning, next steps and expert knowledge |
| Registration | https://startupaotearoa.org/book-a-session/ |
If you’re interested in how this work might connect with your context, there are a few ways to take the next step.
Our approach
Ways to partner
© 2022 by Stand Tall Community Trust. Registered Charity CC59121.
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