Nastacia Gaylard

Nastacia Gaylard is an 18-year-old resident of Havelock North who has been in the news for her inspiring journey of overcoming challenges to pursue her dream of joining the New Zealand Army. Having connected with Lift, a youth support organization, she transitioned from unemployment to military service after completing their Bounce programme, which helped her develop new skills and improve her wellbeing. Gaylard's story highlights the importance of support systems for at-risk youth, and she aims to give back to the community by sharing her experiences with other young people at the rangatahi hub.