A group of coders and designers from Adobe in India and San Francisco visited the High Tech Youth Network yesterday.

The meet and greet was part of the Adobe Project 1324 initiative, which supports a global community of artists aged 13-24 who use creativity as a force for positive change, Adobe explains in a statement.

Fourteen coders and designers met with more than 40 youth members from High Tech Youth Studios from Auckland and the Waikato.

The initiative's mission is to provide opportunities for emerging creatives to connect, collaborate on projects, and increase the visibility and impact of their work.

"We are proud to recognize High Tech Youth as a Creative Catalyst,” says Lauren Stevenson, director, Project 1324, Adobe. “Their innovative programmes develop and engage creative expression as a force for positive youth development and social change."

High Tech Youth is an inaugural recipient of the new Adobe Creative Catalyst Award, a recognition by Project 1324 of leading youth arts organisations that support and inspire the next generation of creative, Stevenson explains.

Creative Catalysts receive a lab donation of Adobe's Creative Cloud software for up to 25 computers, have opportunities for peer-to-peer learning online and through convenings, and chances to apply for grants.

Youth who are a part of Creative Catalyst organisations can apply to the Adobe Creativity Scholarship Program, which provides education grants for the pursuit of a creative path in higher education.

The software donations will enable youth to creatively communicate a vision for change in their communities and lives through digitally inspiring video, print and audio projects.

Kane Milne, director of learning at High Tech Youth Network, says, "Adobe has been an important partner of the High Tech Youth Network since 2007. Their support and investment has provided opportunities for our youth to develop their creative confidence, and to share their ideas and voices across a global community,” he says.

“Project 1324 aims to expand those opportunities to an even bigger audience.

During their visit, teams of HTYN youth, staff from HTYN and Adobe held workshops discussing, critical thinking, visual design, documentary making, coding and advanced video editing and Project 1324.