Our Impact

Over 5000 students supported by the Soul Learning Trust

Preventative well-being skills

When funders address youth well-being, they face a choice: keep pouring resources into emergency services and specialist care (“ambulances at the bottom of the cliff”), or invest earlier so fewer young people end up needing those services.

The Soul Learning Charitable Trust chooses the latter. We fund the Soul Learning In-School Program because prevention works, it scales in schools, and it’s grounded in an evidence-informed, culturally-rooted model that supports lifelong skills.

We are always open to hearing from community groups and organisations with a shared mission of saving the lives of Aotearoa youth.

Soul Learning In-School Program

The core program we currently fund is the Soul Learning In-School Program. Soul Learning Ltd is an organisation based in Mount Maunganui, dedicated to enhancing mental health and well-being through accessible te ao Māori-based resources, education and practical tools.

Their mission is to dismantle systemic barriers that hinder individuals from reaching their full potential by providing self-empowering resources for everyday use. These resources incorporate simple well-being strategies to help individuals reconnect with themselves, support mental health, and cope with the challenges of today's society.

The Soul Learning Trust has funded thousands of students in schools who otherwise were unable to implement the program.

Quick Stats

  • Soul Learning Ltd has helped over 8000 students across Aotearoa, including 5000 students funded by the Soul Learning Trust.

  • Over 70 secondary schools have enrolled with the Soul Learning program, including 40 schools funded by the Soul Learning Trust.

  • Over 90% of surveyed students report that this program has helped to improve their well-being

Soul Learning improves youth wellbeing

  • Breathing

    After the Soul Learning In-School Program, more students report using breathing techniques as a self-regulation tool.

  • Feeling good

    Students who complete the Soul Learning program show measurable mood improvements: more students report feeling “okay” or better, and fewer report not feeling good.

  • Wellbeing

    Over 90% of students report that the Soul Learning program improved their overall sense of well-being.

What we do
  • A green background with white and orange text displaying a quote about ongoing support, attributed to Andrew Turner of Tauranga Boys' College, emphasizing the positive impact of a program.

  • Testimonial praise for Soul Learning program, endorsing its effectiveness for anxiety, self-esteem, and emotional issues, citing journaling, breathing, and mindfulness as activities.

  • Green background with white text that reads "Wellbeing for Schools"

  • Image of a spiral-bound book titled 'The Handbook Towards Happiness' with a natural green and botanical cover, and a plain white page with green and black leaf illustrations and black text.

Feedback from the community

“This programme gave me more hope than a clinical setting. It's more personable and provided me with ways that it could help me instead of making me feel like something to be solved. I was in such a dark place before this programme, and Soul Learning has completely got me out of this thinking.”

Bree | Student

I am writing to strongly recommend Soul Learning programme for rangitahi and indeed anyone struggling with anxiety, self-esteem or emotional issues.

The programme is self-paced and beautifully practical, incorporating ‘real’ activities such as journalling, breathing and mindfulness, all of which have solid, research-based backing.

Paul Prangley | Psychologist

Our initial focus has been providing support for a group of boys' struggling with anxiety, self-esteem or emotional issues and the feedback so far has been really positive. The practical self-paced nature of the programme meets individual needs and empowers them to explore skills such as journalling, breathing and mindfulness. We also believe the programme has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of our rangatahi.

Andrew Turner | Principal Tauranga Boys’ College

FAQs

  • It’s a preventative wellbeing initiative delivered with an online platform of resources and a reflective student journal.

    Designed specifically for schools, it helps students reconnect with their true selves through simple, practical, lifelong strategies.

  • Students receive their own copy of a reflective journal along with engaging digital content shared by the teacher.

    Teachers and staff gain access to a straightforward, supportive online platform filled with simple-to-use resources.

  • The program explores topics including resilience, identity, emotional awareness, balance, self-love, compassion, bravery, and forgiveness.

    It also includes simple wellbeing strategies that can be incorporated into everyday life.

  • It’s delivered online through a digital platform of simple resources for classroom use.

    The teacher facilitates the program by pushing play on the audio and video resources that support the journals.

  • The In-School Program is currently thriving in classrooms across Aotearoa, reaching a growing number of schools and students nationwide.

    There are programs for all levels of schools.

  • The platform comes with a wellbeing survey that either the school or Soul Learning can analyse and create a report from.. Students complete the survey at the beginning and end of the program.

    Surveys indicate that participating students experience reduced stress and worry, improved self-love and excitement for their future, and enhanced overall wellbeing.

  • Rather than creating an awareness of wellbeing, this program focuses on creating space to live it, breathe it, and build it from the inside out, fostering deep internal growth.

    Students self-reflect about their identity and experiences and learn strategies to put action towards improving their wellbeing.

  • Soul Learning is committed to making the program accessible and affordable, and can work with schools to explore funding options and support implementation.

Are you seeking funding?

Reach out using the contact form below if you are a teacher or principal looking to implement Soul Learning in your school.

Please also contact us if you are part of an impactful initiative seeking funding to support mental health and wellbeing for New Zealand youth.