Mixit is all about people. Meet our Alumni, our Youth Leaders and the support team that have made Mixit what it is today.
Youth leaders
Mixit has a dynamic Youth Leadership programme. This programme offers motivated individuals an opportunity to step up into roles where they face new challenges and opportunities to grow their skills.
Youth Leaders take on organisational and planning responsibilities, gain experience of creative facilitation skills, manage the digital media aspects of the project, have the opportunity and support to initiate events and projects that inspire them. The youth leaders are an integral and dynamic team within Mixit and work hard together to make a difference.
Zohal Afshary
Youth Leader
Originally from Afghanistan, Zohal joined Mixit in 2021 when she was introduced through her sister. The fun and energetic atmosphere immediately caught her attention, and she decided to participate regularly. After coming for a year, she was invited to step up as a Youth Leader. She values the inclusive and welcoming environment that provided a pla...
Arezo Nazari
Youth Leader
As a newcomer to New Zealand, Arezo was invited to end-of-year picnic in 2021 from other organisation, where she first encountered Mixit. Subsequently, she joined the summer project – “VOICES” in 2022. Originally from Afghanistan, Arezo initially struggled with homesickness and isolation. However, her time at Mixit proved transformative, allowing ...
Sajal Taneja
Youth Leader Coordinator
Sajal joined Mixit in 2019 through a family friend and became a Junior Youth Leader within a year. Since then, Sajal has consistently displayed commitment to our mission and has become an integral part of our community. Now, as a Youth Leader Coordinator, he helps in training and guiding the upcoming Youth Leaders. Originally from India, Sajal valu...
Team
Kaviesha Abeysinghe-Perera
Outreach Leader
Kaviesha discovered Mixit in 2012 through an article in the Western Leader. After participating in the "Cross Roads" summer project in 2013, she became a Youth Leader, later progressing to join Mixit's Alumni team and eventually serving as a trustee on the board. Originally from Sri Lanka, she completed her education in NZ with a Bachelor of Scienc...
Izadine Ahmat Abdallah
Programme Leader
Izadine started out at Mixit as a shy and unconfident teenager, but he was determined to find positive ways to grow. He found his stride, first as a youth leader and then as an Alumni, inspiring others like him. In 2020, he completed his film studies at the School of Audio Engineering and in 2023 he earned a diploma in Entrepreneurship from AUT. H...
Ekta Gyawali
Operations Leader
Ekta became a part of Mixit in 2022 during the challenging aftermath of COVID, stepping into the newly created position of Operations Leader. Drawing from her own experiences as a migrant in Aotearoa, she holds a passion for empowering young people and finds fulfilment in her role at Mixit, viewing it as an opportunity for both personal and profess...
Board members
Susan Davis
Trustee
Susan has a background teaching and engaging with visual arts and poetry initiatives. As a trustee she brings a set of skills that connects the space between Board and Management and flows through to direct mentoring of the Mixit participants. Susan hosts our annual Youth Leaders retreats on her rural property in Northland and is a deeply committed...
Amavi Mey
Trustee
Amavi is the Communities Engagement Manager at Fonterra and enjoys being in a role that connects the business world to communities. She’s also been a school teacher and thrives in situations that are about supporting growth, including being on the Board for May Road School and a volunteer for Springboard Trust. Amavi is a Cambodian NZer from a fami...
Mark Easterbrook
Trustee - Chair
Mark works as a Writer and Creative Director in the advertising and design industry, as well as volunteering his time for arts and charity organisations. As a creative thinker, he aims to join the dots between ideas and people to help build Mixit’s connections and tell our story. As a Mixit trustee, he brings a calm, optimistic approach to what we ...
Alumni squad
Mixit Youth Leaders graduate into our Alumni team. The team actively engage on many levels – as Ambassadors, on the Board, mentoring youth, performing for external events, creating music (check out our videos) and participating in continued training to creatively lead and manage outreach opportunities.
Ray Santiago
Alumni Squad
Ray joined Mixit in 2020 as a creative intern during the "In a Curious Garden" summer project while completing his final year at university. Since then, he's become an integral part of the Alumni squad, facilitating Mixit-style sessions nationwide and engaging in youth-related activities. Originally from Philippines, he was drawn to Mixit's heartfe...
Younis Ahmat Abdallah
Alumni squad
Younis Ahmat Abdallah enrolled in our Youth Leadership initiative in 2018 and progressed to become a member of the Alumni Squad by the end of 2020. Following his completion of an apprenticeship in building, he now works as a builder and has founded his own company. Alongside his professional endeavors, he remains engaged in creative pursuits throug...
Mu Nyay
Alumni squad
Mu Nyay has been actively involved with Mixit since 2013. In 2018, she was appointed as a Youth Leader, and in 2021, she became a member of our Alumni Squad. Reflecting on Mixit programs, Mu Nyay expressed, "I cherish the moments on the floor because it's all about enjoying ourselves, and I believe everyone shares that sentiment." She graduated fro...
Selected guest artists
Gemma-Jayde Naidoo:
Choreographer
Ebon Grayman:
Performer & Aerial Acrobat
Tama Jarman:
Theatre Director & Performer
Mike & Bronwyn Baker:
Ariel Acrobats & Circus Tutors
Matilde Polard:
Visual Artist
Ben Crowder:
Actor
Miriama McDowell:
Theatre Director
Katy Burton:
Choreographer & Performer
Tahi-Mapp Borren:
Guest Artist
Gino October:
Musician
Daniel Ortiz Rodreiguez:
Composer & Musician
Bianca Hyslop:
Choreographer & Performer
Malia Johnston:
Choreographer & Director
Eve Gordon & Dust Palace:
Performers & Aerial Acrobats
Jahra Wasasala:
Multi-Disciplinary Artist
Ahi Kahrunahran:
Theatre Director
Andrew Cesan:
Choreographer
Mel Bailey aka Kloos:
Performer & Musician
Don McGlashan:
Composer & Musician
Eddie Elliott:
Choreographer & Performer
Sarah-Jane Blake:
Visual Installation & Designer
Margaret-Mary Hollins:
Theatre Director & Performer
Chris Graham:
Theatre Director & Performer
Maisy Conway:
Garden Designer
Alexander Holloway:
Stage Combat
Muhammad Ali Kanwal:
Musician & Performer
Gaby Thomas:
Choreographer & Performer
Megan Bardsley:
Graphic Designer
Moss Patterson:
Choreographer
Emily Carter & Natalie Keane:
Costume Stylists
Ooshcon Massuers:
Choreographer
Elijah Kennar:
Choreographer & Performer
Chris Jannides:
Choreographer & Director
Chris O’Connor:
Composer & Musician
Justin Haiu:
Choreographer & Performer
Tawanda Manyimo:
Theatre Director & Performer
Claire Talbot:
Garden Designer
Helen Todd:
Lighting Designer
Ilai Amar:
Film maker
Sparrow Phillips:
Artist
Felix Becroft:
Performer & Musician
Katy Dugdale:
Visual Artist
Yair Katz:
Musician
Paulo Rotondo:
Director & Writer
Bethan Marshall:
Artist/ Muralist
Ella Becroft:
Photographer & Graphic Designer
Julia Deans:
Musician
Andi Crowne:
Photographer
Bert Van Dijk:
Theatre Director & Performer
Katy Parker:
Visual Theatre Artist
Global connections
Mixit has a growing network of similar inspiring creative organisations that work with young people and marginalized communities. We are interested in making new connections, partnerships and opportunities with like-minded groups. If you have a project and want to link up with Mixit reach out, start talking and join our global connections map.
CAN – Community Arts Northwest, Manchester
can.uk.comProject Phakama, London
projectphakama.orgContact Theatre, Manchester
contactmcr.comRichard Mille Replica
.richardmille.toOvalhouse Theatre, London
ovalhouse.comCounterpoints Arts and Platforma, London
counterpointsarts.org.ukCoHealth Arts Generator, Melbourne
cohealthartsgenerator.comMulticultural Arts Victoria, Melbourne
.multiculturalarts.com.auThe Open University for Refugees, Singapore
initiativeour.orgHelp us continue Mixing. Donate today.
We are a Charitable Trust which means that all donations of $5 or more are eligible for a tax rebate. We send out our tax donation receipts each year in April or May (just after the end of the NZ tax year) with a little update of what we've been doing for the last year.
You are welcome to make a one off donation, either by clicking on the big purple box at the top of the page, or contact us to enquire about how to pay us directly.
You can also contact us to talk about taking a more personalised approach such as contributing to a specific project, donating your time, making a generous one-off donation or becoming a volunteer driver.
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One Percent Collective is an amazing charity that connects people who want to give back and do good things in the community with great charities around NZ. Mixit is one of the select charities One Percent Collective thinks NZ'ers should know about. One Percent take NO percentage of the donor’s contribution, instead donating 100% to their charities.
Thanks for considering us for your support.
