Ineligible for fees-free or a student loan and allowance due to residency conditions, excellence student, Teresa Ata, was given a lifeline securing a three-year scholarship through OCS New Zealand and First Foundation.
Born and raised in Tonga, Teresa moved to New Zealand in 2017 and has seen first-hand the devastating effects cancer and diabetes have had on her family, igniting a passion to study health science to ‘give back’ to those suffering.
Each year, facilities management services company OCS New Zealand sponsor a high school student through the First Foundation sponsorship programme. The scholarship provides financial assistance towards tertiary fees, one-on-one mentoring and paid work experience and is offered to family members of OCS’ staff; Teresa’s father, Manavaha Ata, is one of the company’s cleaners.
Armed with an ‘excellent’ endorsement in NCEA Level 3 from Marcellin College, Teresa was excited to pursue her dream in 2021 of studying towards a Bachelor of Health Science at the University of Auckland, but was disappointed to learn she was ineligible for fees-free or a student loan and allowance due to permanent residency conditions.
Teresa says realising she had to three years following her permanent residency approval to become eligible for a student loan and allowance was a huge setback.
“With thousands of other eligible OCS family members to compete against, it was a complete shock when I was contacted and told I was the successful applicant.”
OCS has been a scholarship partner with the First Foundation programme since 2014 and has now supported five students towards their chosen pathways.
OCS ANZ Managing Director, Gareth Marriott says the First Foundation programme is built on partnerships and offers the simplicity of a ‘hand-up’ approach to make a difference to the individual and the impact they will have on society.
“Since becoming a sponsor, we’ve played a fundamental role in helping students achieve their tertiary goals, providing financial support and practical work experience – as well as encouraging our other partners to support the programme.”
The First Foundation programme follows a three-pillar model. A sponsoring organisation provides financial assistance of $12,000 towards the student’s university costs and a mentor is assigned to assist students through the major transitions from high school to university.
Each year work experience is also provided through a partnership that will offer paid work experience which allows students to develop skills in a safe work environment and build new networks.
Teresa says receiving the scholarship will help greatly with financing her university studies.
“My father is the only income earner for my family, and it’s been financially difficult to pay school fees and purchase resources such as textbooks; university will require further investment we simply can’t afford. This scholarship and the generosity of OCS is life-changing – it will not only lessen the financial burden, but it’s also provided me with an invaluable mentor and work experience for the future.
“I like the ‘hand-up, not a hand-out’ philosophy of First Foundation and hope to one day do the same for other young people like myself who deserve a hand-up in life to reach their dreams.”