Rugby Star Dominic Bird steps up as new ambassador

Media Release
Wednesday 1 October, 2014

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 nicky.davis@fyd.org.nz

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

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