A love of music is a shared part of youth culture. And that’s why Zeal has made music central to its youth development work.
Zeal is a nationwide youth development organisation dedicated to helping young people embrace their self-worth, unlock their potential and build positive futures. Zeal West Auckland is centrally located in Henderson, next to West Wave and is a youth centre with a difference.
Here, you won’t find the usual ping-pong tables. ‘We have a dance and rehearsal space, recording studios, a digital design lab and much more,’ Neli Alo, Zeal West Auckland’s Manager, proudly declares. He adds that Zeal offers a broad range of programmes to unleash the creativity of young Westies and help them to thrive in the world of work.
Whether it’s mastering the latest hip-hop moves, perfecting guitar licks, or creating the ultimate DJ beats, young people at Zeal can explore their creativity and develop friendships. And it’s the music programme that really sparks the passions of young Westies. ‘Music is a powerful tool for self-expression and personal growth,’ Neli advises.
Zeal’s unique approach combines music creation with mentorship, empowering young people to discover their passions and thrive in their artistic pursuits. Funding of $20,000 from the 2024 Your West Support Fund has helped Zeal connect to even more rangatahi through music.
The money supported the salary costs of two key youth workers who are also music tutors and professional musicians. Using the specialist skills and infectious enthusiasm of Gibson Harris and Ellaphon Tauariki, Zeal developed a new and exciting, schools-based youth development initiative called Auxillary.
Neli explains more. ‘The programme incorporates music as a tool to promote mental health awareness, emotional resilience, and a supportive community for rangatahi experiencing challenges,’ he says. Massey High School was the focus of a successful pilot project. The feedback from the pilot was overwhelmingly positive.
So, the programme was extended to other schools, including West Auckland Middle School and Avondale Intermediate. Over ten sessions, groups of 10-15 students developed their musical and production skills. And most importantly, they got to have a whole lot of fun. The Your West Support Fund also contributed to Zeal’s Creative Music Programme.
This ten-week programme offers one-on-one tuition sessions in music composition, songwriting and instrument classes. Around 12-18 young people participate each term, and the programme culminates in a live performance where the young people show off their creative talents.
With the funding, Zeal has been able to offer the programme at a subsidised rate so that even more young people could get involved. There’s a lot going on at Zeal, with music being just one of the available creative outlets. Check out the website to learn more about what this very special organisation offers.
