Manurewa Local Board wants young people with leadership potential to step up and apply for its rangatahi youth scholarships.
Scholarships to a maximum of $2000 for academic and trades purposes are available to 14 to 24-year-olds and applications close on 15 October.
Last year 20 scholarships were awarded.
“Our spending was $30,000, and in a community that doesn’t always have ready access to cash, that’s a lot of money students didn’t have to find,” board member Anne Candy says
One scholar is studying Māori development and NZ sign language and deaf studies. When they graduate, they will be one of only a handful of people qualified to sign in te reo.
Each year, the board’s decisions are guided by advice from the Manurewa Youth Council.
“It’s important young people have input into decisions affecting other rangatahi, and youth council members have provided great advice. Our young people need our support, and it is a pleasure to stand with them and show we believe in them,” board chair Joseph Allan says.
As well as academic and trades pursuits, funding can be used to attend events to develop leadership skills.
The board is committed to making its programme as open to all as possible.
“You can think of scholarships as being for the academically gifted, but we are more interested in people’s potential to return something to their communities. We will gladly back those who volunteer in the community or want to gain skills to do so in future,” Candy says.
“Helping someone become a builder or a Girl Guide leader is as important to us as helping someone become an architect. It’s about helping good young people realise their potential.”
Among last year’s 20 successful applicants were students in law, health sciences, rongoa Māori, at summer school and science and technology events, in the arts, human rights, engineering and business, and one taking part in the Girl’s Brigade Queen’s Award.
“Our rangatahi can face hurdles from fees, books or tools, and need to know there’s help available,” Candy says.
Applicants must use funds in 2022 to move into education and training or attend New Zealand events based on leadership and development, live in the board area, be citizens or residents, and have shown leadership potential or a willingness to help others.
Assessments take place soon after applications close, with scholarships announced in November, to a maximum $2000.
All applications must be completed online, more information can be found at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/grants, select local board grants and then Manurewa Local Board.
