For many young people, going to university is seen as a natural next step after school. But for others, the barriers can feel overwhelming. Financial pressure, limited family experience with tertiary education, and a lack of professional networks can all stand in the way of talented rangatahi reaching their potential. That is where First Foundation steps in.
The organisation’s four-year programme is designed to support young people who are often furthest from the starting line, helping them transition from school to university and into meaningful employment. And $20,000 in funding from The Trusts’ Your West Support Fund will help strengthen that support in West Auckland by contributing towards the salary of Student Engagement Manager Isaac Etimani. For Isaac, the work is deeply personal. A proud West Auckland local and former Kelston Boys’ High School student, Isaac has spent the past decade supporting young people through the First Foundation programme.
‘West Auckland is home for me,’ he says. ‘These students are all very capable. They just need someone in their corner helping them navigate the challenges that come with being the first in their family to go to university.’
Pastoral care sits at the heart of the programme. In 2025, the average household income of First Foundation students was less than $62,000, while 83% were the first in their families to attend university. Isaac works closely with students throughout their journey, delivering workshops on financial literacy, university preparation, and more. He also regularly visits campuses to check in with students individually and in groups, helping them stay connected, confident, and focused. For many students, that ongoing encouragement can make all the difference.
‘University can feel like a completely different world when nobody in your family has experienced it before,’ Isaac says. ‘Sometimes students just need reassurance that they belong there and that they are capable of succeeding.’ Unlike traditional scholarships that focus on financial assistance, First Foundation provides wraparound support, including mentoring, workplace exposure, and access to professional networks. The organisation has operated for 27 years and has supported more than 100 young West Aucklanders from schools such as Kelston Girls’ College, Green Bay High School, and Lynfield College.
One of those students is Zephania Lai from Massey High School. Zephania says he was working at his cleaning job when he received the notification that he had been selected for a First Foundation scholarship. ‘I was really excited and ran to my dad,’ he says. ‘We had a little celebration in the car on the way home.’ Zephania plans to study nuclear physics at university and says the scholarship will make a significant difference to his future. ‘It’s a massive opportunity for me and takes a huge financial weight off my back,’ he adds.
First Foundation says the support from The Trusts will help ensure even more young West Aucklanders can access opportunities that may otherwise remain out of reach. ‘Breaking cycles of poverty and disadvantage does not happen overnight,’ Isaac says. ‘But when you support one young person to succeed, it can change the direction of an entire whānau for generations to come.’
Learn more about First Foundation at firstfoundation.org.nz or follow them on Facebook.
If you or your organisation could use support from The Trusts, find out how to apply at thetrusts.co.nz/our-funds.
