First Foundation

Every young Kiwi deserves the same opportunities. Unleash the potential of talented but disadvantaged New Zealanders, with life-changing education and support. Let’s level the playing field - Socio-economic status shouldn’t stop young people from achieving their dreams. But many bright students simply don’t have the financial resources and professional networks most people rely on to get started in their careers. While financial assistance is crucial for students from lower-income households, so is having role models who have been to university, and access to work opportunities in the professional world. With your help, First Foundation provides targeted support in all three of these areas, to give talented Kiwis from challenging backgrounds the opportunities many of us take for granted. Financial support Each of our scholars gets $4000 a year for three years, to go towards their university costs. This takes away the burden of a big student loan, making it easier for them to attend university rather than going straight into low-skilled work to support their families. Mentoring Many of our scholars are the first in their family to attend university, and might not have tertiary-qualified role models who can help them make this transition. We match them with a dedicated mentor, who helps them overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Paid work experience Students with financial challenges also tend to lack access to influential social and professional networks, compared with their peers at high decile schools. To provide this crucial source of information and opportunity, we arrange for them to do at least four weeks of paid work experience each year. This lets them grow their skills and relationships in a safe work environment. “My life completely changed” “My dream of making my parents proud and changing the story of my family. They have given me hope and have given me wings" - Daniel Mea’ole-Naea, 2017 OCS scholar