Let's give Aotearoa's neurodivergent teens a chance to let their awesome shine!
Help fund NZ's talent incubator for brilliant neurodivergent teens! We help where mainstream education hasn't.
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Help spark a brilliant future!
When Oscar* joined The Hyphen Project’s pilot talent incubator, he hadn’t spoken to anyone in months. He was anxious, isolated, and full of self-doubt. Traditional school had overwhelmed him—too noisy, too rigid, and not designed for the way his neurodivergent mind works. Oscar wasn’t failing. The system was failing him.
But everything changed in our incubator.
He began creating science experiment videos, set to music he mixed himself—combining creativity with curiosity. Surrounded by peers who understood him, mentors who believed in him, and learning practical skills like cooking, taking public transport, and chairing meetings—Oscar reengaged in the world around him.
He didn’t just make science videos. He rediscovered his spark.
Now we need your help to offer this life-changing opportunity to more teens like Oscar.
Our second talent incubator will support neurodivergent youth aged 16–19—young people full of potential but let down by mainstream education. They’re not broken—they’re brilliant. Our programme gives them space to explore passion projects, connect with like-minded peers, and learn how to thrive with their differently-wired minds.
With your donation, you can help turn isolation into inspiration. Confusion into confidence. Potential into possibility.
Donate today. Help us light the path for the next Oscar.
*Story is an amalgamation of different people for privacy reasons.
About us
The Hyphen Project is an educational and vocational institute. It runs a 6-month, full-time, face-to-face talent incubator for brilliant neurodivergent teens who have not been well served in mainstream education. We transition them to work or study.
Use of funds
In our pilot talent incubator we've seen our teens go from strugglers to strivers. And we want to help more rangatahi. Help us make our second talent incubator possible!
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Latest update
Thank you for believing in us! 30 April 2025
To everyone who donated to our Givealittle page – Let’s Give Aotearoa’s Neurodivergent Teens a Chance – thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Your generosity and kindness has given us such encouragement and supports us to continue building inclusive spaces, and awesome opportunities for teens that are often left unsupported.
We are deeply grateful to have you standing with us making Aotearoa a great place to be a talented, neurodivergent teen. There is no puzzle too impossible to solve if we work together!
With heartfelt thanks,
The Hyphen Project team
Latest donations
Thank you so much Pita whānau. Your support makes all the difference! We appreciate you.
Thank you for your donation Steven. We feel lucky to have your support and your encouragement.
Thank you Shane. We are hugely grateful.
Thank you so much Brent. This is just awesome and very much appreciated.
A wonderful gift the Easter weekend. Thanks so much Cliff.
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