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Mentoring Providers

First Foundation

First Foundation is an educational trust that helps talented, financially disadvantaged young New Zealanders access tertiary education. It partners with businesses to provide scholarships and supports students by preparing them to achieve their goals.

Each recipient of a First Foundation scholarship receives:

  • An annual grant towards their tertiary fees

  • Paid work experience with the Scholarship Partner sponsoring them (from which students are required to contribute towards their own tertiary fees)

  • A personal mentor to advise and guide them

Programme details


Overview

Our four-year programme helps talented young Kiwis whose circumstances make it harder to attend university — giving them financial support, exposure to the world of work, and a dedicated mentor to help navigate from school, through higher education and into a meaningful career. This improves each Scholar's opportunities in life, giving them the support and professional networks many of us take for granted.

Each Scholar is supported by a scholarship partner organisation, matched with a mentor, and given multiple opportunities for work experience each year.

About the mentoring

Mentors are a crucial part of the First Foundation programme. As a mentor, you'll walk alongside your Scholar through the challenging transition from school to university and into the professional world — being a listening ear and sounding board, a positive role model, and a trusted friend who helps them set goals and make the most of the programme.

This is a one-on-one mentoring relationship, ideally for the full four years of the programme and beyond. You'll meet with your Scholar face-to-face at least once a month, with regular contact in between.

Contact details

Josiah Parr

027 246 0766
josiah.parr@firstfoundation.org.nz