NZSA Youth Mentor Programme – for senior secondary school students

The NZSA Youth Mentor programme, supported by Creative New Zealand, is open to students aged 15 to 18 years old nationwide, and is run by the NZ Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ) Inc, who have run a highly successful mentoring programme for writers since 1999. The aims are to nurture, encourage, inspire and develop emerging writers with the support of established writers through the mentoring process. 

There are four 9 hour mentorships available nationwide. Students will be matched with an experienced published New Zealand writer.

Applications for this programme are open between 9 Feb and 6 April.

• Youth Mentee Guidelines
• Youth Mentor Programme Application Form
• List of Youth Mentors

Student applicants should have a writing project they want to develop. This could be working on a short story collection; collecting together a themed group of poems; or developing the first draft of a long form piece of writing.

Applicants should be motivated to develop their writing and have be receptive to guidance/input from a mentor. The application requires a sample of writing, and a letter of support from the student’s teacher or, in the case of a home schooled student, their guardian.

Applications are assessed by a panel of experienced writers. The panel look for developing writing style, originality of the project idea, and a project outline which shows the student has a clear idea about what they would like to achieve.  They will also be looking for the students who demonstrate a commitment to the mentorship. 

HERE’S WHAT SOME OF OUR YOUTH MENTEES HAD TO SAY ABOUT THEIR MENTORSHIP

‘The relationship and communication with my mentor was amazing. All the goals I set were personally settled upon which allowed for great project development and personal achievement’.

“I enjoyed how the mentorship was very individualised to my personal goals and needs. I also enjoyed the opportunity for open discussion, which often helped me approach a concept from a different perspective. The opportunity to submit reworked sections of my manuscript for feedback also allowed me to see the ways in which I’d improved.”

“I feel like I can go on from this with the skills needed to write a decent story. I still have a lot to learn, but that comes with the process, and I’ve been given the guidance I need to make that journey on my own”.

THIS PROGRAMME IS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO SUPPORT FROM CREATIVE NEW ZEALAND