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
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...
Nicole Beer
Finance Leader
Nicole joined the team to both hold and develop our Financial Management needs. She brings an extensive background of accounting and financial know-how supporting a wide range of community and charitable organisations including Tuilaepa Youth Mentoring (who mentor Pacifica youth at risk), Hibiscus Hospice and the YES Disability Centre. She has also...
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
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...
Sam Ramlu
Trustee
Sam is a co-founder and director of Method Digital – an innovative creative digital agency and she loves bringing stories to life through technology. A Fijian born Kiwi Indian Sam has been part of a wide range of cutting-edge digital design, virtual and augmented reality initiatives. She’s also been an active trustee on other boards in the film and...
Mike Becroft
Trustee
Michael is an Art Director in film and been part of the NZ film industry since the early 1980s. Closely associated with Mixit since it was established in 2006, he was the inaugural Chair of the Board. He retains a seat at the board table providing a steady voice of reason, a wise overview and ensures the project remains true to its core purpose, al...
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.
Laya Rasooli
Alumni squad
Laya is a Mixit youth leader who began participating in the Mixit project in late 2020. She loves Mixit's energy and cosy atmosphere. The friendly environment encourages activity and creativity.Laya is currently pursuing a degree in Architecture and a minor degree in Creative Technologies. Additionally, she works as a product marketing designer. La...
Kaviesha Abeysinghe Perera
Alumni squad
Kaviesha read about Mixit in her local paper as a teenager and ventured into the project determined to find opportunities for herself and her sister. She has always been involved with traditional Sri Lankan dance and discovered at Mixit the stimulation of different kinds of contemporary art forms and never looked back. She initially thought she wou...
Ilknur Ozbal
Alumni squad
Ilknur joined the Youth Leader programme in early 2019, and the Alumni squad in early 2021. When she's not studying at University you'll find her keeping active through playing sports and going to the gym. She is also interested in promoting the value diversity and encouraging people to be happy with their differences.
Selected guest artists
Ahi Kahrunahran:
Theatre Director
Sparrow Phillips:
Artist
Bethan Marshall:
Artist/ Muralist
Andrew Cesan:
Choreographer
Chris O’Connor:
Composer & Musician
Julia Deans:
Musician
Yair Katz:
Musician
Megan Bardsley:
Graphic Designer
Margaret-Mary Hollins:
Theatre Director & Performer
Jahra Wasasala:
Multi-Disciplinary Artist
Katy Parker:
Visual Theatre Artist
Daniel Ortiz Rodreiguez:
Composer & Musician
Andi Crowne:
Photographer
Mel Bailey aka Kloos:
Performer & Musician
Claire Talbot:
Garden Designer
Helen Todd:
Lighting Designer
Matilde Polard:
Visual Artist
Gino October:
Musician
Tama Jarman:
Theatre Director & Performer
Maisy Conway:
Garden Designer
Alexander Holloway:
Stage Combat
Elijah Kennar:
Choreographer & Performer
Gemma-Jayde Naidoo:
Choreographer
Malia Johnston:
Choreographer & Director
Miriama McDowell:
Theatre Director
Paulo Rotondo:
Director & Writer
Katy Dugdale:
Visual Artist
Chris Graham:
Theatre Director & Performer
Muhammad Ali Kanwal:
Musician & Performer
Ooshcon Massuers:
Choreographer
Felix Becroft:
Performer & Musician
Justin Haiu:
Choreographer & Performer
Ben Crowder:
Actor
Ebon Grayman:
Performer & Aerial Acrobat
Bert Van Dijk:
Theatre Director & Performer
Bianca Hyslop:
Choreographer & Performer
Chris Jannides:
Choreographer & Director
Ilai Amar:
Film maker
Tawanda Manyimo:
Theatre Director & Performer
Katy Burton:
Choreographer & Performer
Gaby Thomas:
Choreographer & Performer
Tahi-Mapp Borren:
Guest Artist
Eve Gordon & Dust Palace:
Performers & Aerial Acrobats
Moss Patterson:
Choreographer
Don McGlashan:
Composer & Musician
Ella Becroft:
Photographer & Graphic Designer
Emily Carter & Natalie Keane:
Costume Stylists
Eddie Elliott:
Choreographer & Performer
Mike & Bronwyn Baker:
Ariel Acrobats & Circus Tutors
Sarah-Jane Blake:
Visual Installation & Designer
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.
Our Friends of Mixit donate regularly, this can be set up with us directly, hitting that big purple box at the top of the page, or by following this link One Percent Collective and becoming a donor with them. Please ensure you select Mixit as your reason for joining.
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.
