Time commitment: One afternoon per week. Shifts are Monday or Tuesday afternoons, approximately 3.00pm–6.30pm. Our programme continues through the school holidays.
Rourou Kai Ora is looking for caring, grounded adults to join our team as Volunteer Youth Mentors.
We work alongside Teen Chefs to prepare medically tailored, whole food plant-based meals for people in our community experiencing health challenges. Our kaupapa is grounded in the belief that food can strengthen health, build connection, and create lasting change.
Our programme is about more than food. It is also about confidence, leadership, teamwork, and creating a space where young people can contribute in meaningful ways.
As a Volunteer Youth Mentor, you’ll support our Teen Chefs during after-school kitchen sessions at Newlands College. You’ll help create a welcoming, inclusive, and encouraging environment, while working alongside young people as they cook, learn, and grow.
This is a great role for someone who enjoys working with youth, values community, and wants to be part of a practical, purpose-driven programme.
Support Teen Chefs during after-school kitchen sessions
Help create a safe, calm, positive, and inclusive environment
Encourage confidence, teamwork, leadership, and practical life skills in young people
Work alongside staff and volunteers to help sessions run smoothly
Assist with practical kitchen tasks such as food prep, cooking, cleaning, and packing meals
Model calm, respectful, reliable adult support
Enjoys working with young people
Brings warmth, patience, and good judgement
Is comfortable pitching in with practical tasks
Values care, connection, dignity, and community wellbeing
Can work collaboratively as part of a team
Is reliable and able to commit regularly where possible
Experience working with youth, whether professionally or informally
Kitchen, cooking, mentoring, teaching, coaching, or community experience
An interest in healthy food, community wellbeing, or food as healthcare
Willingness to complete a police vet/check
Comfortable standing for several hours and carrying out light to moderate physical tasks such as chopping, dishes, lifting containers, and general kitchen work
Commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for young people
Alignment with the values and kaupapa of Rourou Kai Ora
Be part of a practical, community-led response that uses food as healthcare
Support Teen Chefs to build confidence, skills, and connection
Join a warm and committed team
Help make a real difference for people in our community
If this sounds like a good fit for you, we’d love to hear from you!
Please email luke@rko.nz with a few lines about yourself, any relevant experience, and why you’re interested in the role. You’re also welcome to include a CV if you have one.
To learn more about our kaupapa, visit https://rouroukaiora.org.nz
Through medically tailored meals made with locally grown organic produce, hands-on youth mentoring, and a commitment to shared care and connection, we are building a future where nutrition is not just an afterthought, but a fundamental part of well-being in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.