Rugby Star Dominic Bird steps up as new ambassador 1 Oct 2014
Related articles
- Niki Roderick Extends Depth To New Zealand Record Sport
- NZ More Interested in All Whites than All Blacks Sport
- Australia Jumping on the Boy Bandwagon Living
- All Whites claim historic point Sport
- Prime Minister to travel to South Africa News
- Snow on The Remarkables Living
- Minister Congratulates Doctor On Major Award News
- Team Selected for Ultimate Ride Jet-ski Sport
- Trubridge Triumphs With Unassisted Freedive Record Sport
- New Zealand 2011 Business Club launched Business
INTERNATIONAL NZ RUGBY PLAYER DOMINIC BIRD ANNOUNCED AS FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT K AMBASSADOR
The tallest New Zealand International rugby player on record, lock Dominic Bird, credits the Foundation for Youth Development’s Project K for giving him the push he needed as an under-confident young teenager, toward the towering heights he has achieved.
Now Bird is giving back to FYD as ambassador for the Foundation’s Project K month-long campaign which starts today.
Dominic Bird graduated from the 14-month programme, which focuses on increasing self- confidence and belief in Year 10 students, in 2006.
“In the early days, what it did for me as a 14,15-year-old was really to push me out of my comfort zone. I was cruising at sport and didn’t do a lot of school work. You’ve got to learn to be uncomfortable and just deal with it,” Bird says. “Project K helped me get to where I am today by giving me direction at a young age, an important age and that just boosted me along the way.
Dominic Bird says he lacked confidence as a young teenager. “I’d say I was quite often within myself. In a classroom I was sitting at the back and didn’t really feel the need to speak up. That all changed as well with skills they gave us on the different parts of Project K.”
Bird will join a more recent Project K graduate, 17-year-old Stacey Beazley from the Waikato. Stacey says: “Before Project K I had no confidence and low self-esteem. Three years down the track I am a completely different person because I have found confidence within myself. Life is now amazing and I love going to school. Project K has enabled me to set my future goals and back myself.”
Project K is for Year 10 students and delivered in three planned and fully integrated stages: wilderness adventure, community challenge and mentoring with a trained adult mentor.
FYD CEO Marion Short says that research has proven that the programme positively changes lives.
“Students that have been through the programme report back increased self-belief and confidence. It has also been proven to significantly improve academic performance,” she says.
FYD reports 250,000 Kiwi kids lack self-confidence. To continue growing the Project K in New Zealand in 2014, FYD needs to raise more than $100,000.
CEO Marion Short is encouraging Kiwis to make a donation from just $20 to help FYD achieve its goal of beating the negative statistics around young New Zealanders lacking self-confidence.
As part of Project K Awareness Month FYD is using the opportunity to look for new mentors and to expand its alumni: “While mentoring takes commitment, it is also hugely rewarding. As a mentor, your role will be to build a trusting, fun partnership with a Project K student and to help them to set and achieve their goals,” says Short.
If you have previously been a Project K Mentor or would like to get involved and become a Project K mentor contact Nicky Davis [email protected]
What: FYD’s Project K campaign
Date: 1 October – 31 October
Cost: From just $20 you can change a Kiwi Kid’s life. Go to www.fyd.org.nz/pk
About FYD:
The Foundation for Youth Development (FYD) is a child and youth charity founded by Graeme Dingle and Jo-anne Wilkinson in 1995 as the Project K Trust. FYD is a leader in the field of child and youth development, running several successful proven programmes – Kiwi Can, Stars and Project K – across New Zealand and MYND in Auckland. In addition they are trialling Career Navigator, a school based ready for work programme in Auckland.
FYD programmes use elements of the great outdoors, inspirational classroom leaders and world-class mentors to help kids, from age 5 to 18, keep on track, develop confidence and self-belief, set goals for the future, and contribute positively to society. With New Zealand’s stunning outdoors and close-knit communities as the backdrop, FYD’s programmes build on young people’s talents through physical and mental challenges; developing core life skills and helping them achieve their potential.
FYD’s programmes are run across New Zealand by licensed community trusts, and are on track to reach almost 20,000 young people this year.
Visit www.fyd.org.nz for more information.
ENDS
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more