Cultivate Christchurch

Cultivate Christchurch focuses on youth employment through combining outdoor experiences and community engagement. We provide employment and skills to young people, who also get the opportunity to work alongside community volunteers.

Initially established atop earthquake-damaged sites in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) and beyond, our network of urban farms existed to provide training and employment opportunities for Canterbury’s youth.

The Cultivate team of youth development professionals and farmers worked alongside young people and their whānau (family) to grow much more than organic produce. We enriched rangatahi (young people) with self-confidence, strengthened well-being, life and employment skills, and - most importantly - a sense of belonging and purpose.

Building on our earlier programmes which were on our own sites, we now work with other community organisations who need support and can provide opportunities for skills development. We believe in the power of the outdoors to help people discover themselves and their potential. Previously we could only do this within the urban farming environment so we are now excited to expand and expose young people to a wider variety of career opportunities and experiences. Ultimately to grow and become a better version of themselves. 

Cultivate is on a mission to inspire and engage young people who are not currently in education, employment or training. Working side by side outdoors, we have the best opportunity to connect with our young people. With all our hands covered in earth, they are happy to open up about their biggest challenges, hopes and fears.

Placing purpose at the heart of what we do, it is that feeling of being part of something bigger than themselves that brings our young people back each week.