Life changing programmes for vulnerable youth and women in the Waikato

We run a variety of programmes which include, farm-based well-being programmes for at risk school students, programmes for young people not in education or employment, programmes for women in difficult circumstances and school holiday programmes!

Our purpose is to support vulnerable youth and women in our community by building empowering connections with our animals. The clients are partnered with a mentor and an equine to help build confidence, identity, self-belief, leadership, communication, and problem solving skills.

Our programmes are run on a small farm at the base of the Hakarimata ranges in Ngaruawahia. We have many operating costs to run the farm to enable us to keep offering our programmes to those that need them.

Student feedback: “I felt able to be myself being here”, “I learnt about breathing well, leadership, learning to be open to learning, and communication”, “To overcome challenges I learnt to be courageous and persistent”,

“Hope Rising is a beautiful, safe, nurturing, encouraging, caring and accepting place.

I learnt a lot about the horses, myself and other people. I feel like I have a foundation to continue working from. I have more self-confidence and self-worth.”

Where a child's future meets a horse's friendship" Help us make a difference one life at a time!