First Foundation

Bright young Kiwis born into poverty are at risk of losing life-changing support due to Covid-19.

These talented school leavers, selected for First Foundation’s four-year programme, were on a path to change their own lives and those of their families and communities. Now they urgently need support from Kiwis like you.

By giving to First Foundation, you’ll help provide vital education, mentoring and work experience to highly capable students with few financial resources. This dramatically improves each student’s opportunities in life, giving them access to the support and professional networks many of us take for granted.

The majority of our funding usually comes from generous businesses who want to help young people reach their potential. But the impact of Covid-19 means many organisations we rely on are no longer able to support these young New Zealanders.

Your gift will help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty that Covid-19 threatens to entrench in New Zealand.

Right now, talented young Kiwis need your help

With support from generous people like you, hundreds of bright young New Zealanders have already had their lives changed through First Foundation. But we can’t stop now.

Covid-19 will disproportionately affect young people disadvantaged by poverty. With cuts to their already low household income due to Covid-19, the priority becomes survival. Young Kiwis who would otherwise have gone to university will now need to work to support their families – leading to another generation in low-skilled jobs. We can’t let these talented students slip through the cracks.

Young people in our programme are more likely to complete their university degree, and many use their improved finances to help support their parents, siblings, or wider community, creating a ripple effect throughout all their lives.

One of those young Kiwis is Susana Vunipola, who like many of our students was the first in her family to attend university.

“My income is now higher than my mother, who has been working for more than 30 years,” says Susana, who began the programme in 2013. “This allows me to help support my family and save toward my goal of owning a family home.”

By donating now, you’ll help change the futures of deserving young Kiwis who urgently need your help – as well as those of their whānau and communities for generations to come.

Please donate what you can to help young New Zealanders born into poverty.

We truly appreciate your support.