At Youth Projects, we know that when young people are given the right support and the right opportunity, their lives can change. That’s exactly what happened when a group of young people in our youth employment program, Transition to Work, joined a dynamic 4-day experience at Larita Academy. Larita Academy is an initiative designed to fuel entrepreneurial drive, build confidence, skills and make real connections to help young people find their tribe.

“We choose to partner with organisations like Larita Academy because they flip the power dynamic script,” says Trent Miller, Chief Executive Officer at Youth Projects. “Everyone’s on a level playing field, it’s not just about young people learning from professionals, it’s about everyone learning from each other. The Academy gives our young people rare access to some of Australia’s leading business minds, while also reminding those professionals of the grit, resilience, determination and potential of the next generation.”

That shared belief is what makes this partnership so powerful. Together, Youth Projects and Larita Academy are creating tailored experiences that equip young people with the mindset, skills, and connections they need to thrive … not just in work, but in life.

And for one of our participants, Zekria, that mission became a reality.

‍Zekria: Turning Ambition into Action

Zekria, a 20-year-old Australian with Afghan heritage, came to Youth Projects with a clear goal: to find secure, salaried employment in the real estate industry. He had some training under his belt, and some prior experience in the industry, but commission work had proven financially unstable and Zekria was exploring his options.

Zekria’s Youth Coach recognised his entrepreneurial spirit and drive from the very start, and when the opportunity arose, she put him forward for the Larita Academy, a program empowering young people with the mindset and practical skills to succeed in business and in life. In 2025, Zekria and the rest of the cohort engaged in CEO conversations, thought-provoking workshops, peer networking with others from similar backgrounds of adversity, and a visit to the Fantauzzo Art Gallery to hear Vincent Fantauzzo’s inspiring story.

While taking part in the program, Zekria received an exciting call ... an invitation to interview for a full-time sales role in the CBD. With confidence built from the skills he gained through Larita’s sessions, he aced the interview and secured the job!

Now happily employed and newly married, Zekria is thriving both personally and professionally.

As his Youth Coach shared: “It has been a privilege and truly rewarding to see someone like him flourish and benefit from our support. The Larita Academy program gave him a great opportunity to learn more about business, and I’m glad that through a referral, he was able to secure a full-time job. He is doing well there and is excited about what’s ahead in both his career and his personal life. As he said ‘2025 is my luck year!’”

Find out more about Youth Project's Transition to Work here: Youth Projects website