In 2010, she was working for the Ministry of Education supporting schools with the increasing use of devices and tech in the classroom.

“The new tech bought new learning opportunities but it also came with new challenges and we kept hearing stories of online bullying and harassment,” explains.

 Karla remembered her own experience of bullying at school and wanted to be the teacher that she needed when she was younger.

“But I had a very typical adult idea of how to create positive change for young people and when I spoke to some of my students, they said my idea was sh*t,” she recalls fondly.

“So I asked if they wanted to build something together and that’s where Sticks and Stones came from and that’s what I’ve been doing since,” she says.

Sticks and Stones is an authentically youth led bullying prevention organisation, focused on empowering young people through strengths based social and emotional learning opportunities

Te Rourou, One Aotearoa Foundation awarded Karla the World of Difference grant, providing funding and support to focus on Sticks and Stones full time for a year. During this time, they developed the year seven and eight ambassador program, resources for the community and started developing the idea for ICON, an online support tool for young people experiencing harm online. Karla says the support of Te Rourou changed everything for Sticks and Stones and they would not be where they are now without their support.

“Te Rourou, One Aotearoa Foundation completely catapulted our profile, they allowed me to think bigger and connected us with other organisations doing amazing work in youth development.” she adds.