Excitement continues to build as construction of the Zeal Youth Development Centre nears the finish line.

Zeal is a not for profit organisation dedicated to positively impacting young people throughout New Zealand. They provide youth with a number of opportunities to grow and explore their creativity, through after-school hangouts, events, creative programmes, workshops etc.

For those who don’t know, the youth development centre, being built by zeal, is a space where youth in Kapiti can come and develop their creative potential. The centre will have a stage for bands and performers, a hangout space, two acoustically lined rehearsal rooms and a graphic design studio.

The set up for the performance space is promising, “It will be set up with sound, lighting, a space at the top where a deejay can go, and the door can open up into an outside space if there’s a big event.”

The centre is being built right next to Pak n Save in Paraparaumu. Construction should be ending towards the end of June.

An open day for the centre will be held on Saturday the 7th of July from 12 – 4 pm. This will provide anyone interested the opportunity to check out the facilities and ask the staff a few questions prior to the centre’s official opening.

The end project will cost around $924,000. Council will be paying $250,000 towards this, as well as chipping in to help with the operational budget. The centre will house around $100,000 worth of equipment.

David Orchard, manager of Zeal, has said that there has been a lot of positive feedback from the public in regards to the centre, with many stating “I wish this was around when I was young.”