Raise relies on an extended community of kind hearted, generous individuals and partners to help change young lives by providing a mentor for every young person who needs one. Partners like Kain Foundation go above and beyond in support of this mission, providing funding and hands-on support, in the process, becoming an essential part of the Raise Village.
Raise is fortunate to be one of Kain Foundation’s 5 community partners, providing evidence-based, early intervention mentoring programs as part of their Northern Opportunities initiative. This unique four-year program supports high school students to develop the skills and capabilities to be socially and economically independent, optimistic and resilient. These are all key outcomes of the Raise youth mentoring program.
Aligned goals
As Nadia Siv from Kain Foundation says, “The Raise mentoring program for Year 9 students aligned perfectly with the Foundation’s goal of providing external role models and support networks to students who typically lack access to enrichment opportunities. It also gives Foundation volunteers the chance to engage directly in a meaningful community initiative, allowing them to contribute in a hands-on way and immerse themselves in the experience.
"At the Kain Foundation, we believe in creating meaningful change through hands-on involvement. Partnering with Raise Foundation allows us to live out our values by investing in youth development, resilience, and social mobility. The mentoring program supports students in building confidence and independence—key outcomes that reflect our commitment to positive social impact. This is one of the things we do to give back.”
Scalability and impact
What stood out to the Kain Foundation about Raise was our structured, nationally recognised mentoring framework, which offered both scalability and impact. “We were particularly drawn to their ability to create safe, non-judgmental spaces where students feel heard, supported, and empowered to explore their potential. Their robust evaluation practices also gave us confidence in the quality and consistency of their outcomes” says Nadia.
Positive impacts for mentors
The Kain Foundation’s Corporate Partner, Kain Lawyers has contributed 43 mentors who have mentored 58 young people as part of this valued, multi layered partnership. These volunteer mentors have consistently described the experience as deeply rewarding. They felt proud to contribute meaningfully to the lives of young people and shared that the opportunity was personally enriching.
Kain Foundation’s Nadia observed other benefits from her colleagues’ volunteering, “Significant growth was observed among our mentors—particularly in empathy, communication, and active listening. Many shared that the experience helped them become better parents, colleagues, and leaders, with one mentor observing that the skills are transferrable to your own life. Feedback from our mentors has been overwhelmingly positive. They’ve described feeling empowered, fulfilled, and proud to be part of something that makes a real difference.
“Mentoring through Raise has created a powerful bridge between our people and the community. It reinforces our culture of giving back and strengthens team engagement by allowing employees to see the tangible impact of their involvement. Mentors also shared how the program helped them build stronger relationships with colleagues and connect in new, meaningful ways.
“One of the most memorable takeaways has been seeing students grow in confidence and clarity about their futures. One mentor recalled how a student who initially lacked direction later shared a clear career path. Another described a mentee who began the program too shy to speak but ended it by delivering a heartfelt speech about their growth. These stories reflect the transformative power of mentoring and the importance of consistent, supportive relationships.”
Building employee engagement
The Kain Foundation’s partnership with Raise is a clear reflection of their commitment to community and long-term social impact. By investing in youth development, they demonstrate their dedication to empowering future generations and contributing to a more equitable society. As one mentor put it, “being associated with the program and its community focus highlights to others that we, as an organization, have a heart and are true to our values.”
As part of our continuous evaluation, Raise surveyed Kain mentors.
A transformative partnership experience
The Kain Foundation strongly encourage organisations and individuals looking to make a difference to young people’s lives to partner with Raise. They describe the experience as not only transformative for the young people involved but also deeply enriching for employees. “It’s a meaningful way to align business operations with social responsibility and foster a culture of purpose and engagement.” Says Nadia.
