AMP allows Kiwis to turn their dreams into reality with 'Do Your Thing' scholarships

Kiwis are a pretty hard-working and determined bunch – take Sir Edmund Hillary, Richie McCaw and Helen Clark, for instance - then of course there’s the thousands of New Zealanders who are out there, achieving great things every day.  Launching its ‘Do Your Thing’ Scholarships, AMP is looking for talented, passionate and determined Kiwis who are ready to do their thing and own their tomorrow, by applying for an AMP Scholarship.

Whether it’s a community project, a business idea, education or a dream to represent New Zealand at the highest level – AMP is looking for inspirational people from all walks of life to apply.

Applications to the AMP ‘Do Your Thing’ Scholarships open on 21 July and close on 16 September 2014.  Almost anyone is eligible, as there’s no age limit restrictions.

Jeff Ruscoe, Chief Customer Officer, at AMP says: “Since 1998, AMP has dedicated almost $2 million towards helping more than 150 Kiwis do their thing. This year’s prize pool of $200,000 is the largest scholarship fund of its kind in New Zealand.”

“Our aim is to inspire people to take control of their future and own their tomorrow – encouraging them to take steps towards their dreams or goals.”

“Whatever your thing is, or where you’re at with it, AMP and our ‘Do Your Thing’ Scholarships not only provide you the financial resource you need to get things under way, but our dedicated teams offer inspiration, support tools and information to help you go on to achieve them.”

So, if you’ve ever wondered ‘what if…’ or know of someone who has the potential to do something amazing with a dream of theirs, now’s the time to go on and ‘Do Your Thing’ with AMP.

Applications for the 2014 AMP ‘Do Your Thing’ Scholarships open from 21 July to 16 September 2014 – make sure you apply!  For more information, including application tips, previous scholarship recipients and to apply online, head to www.doyourthing.co.nz


Scottie Reeve

Scottie Reeve grew up believing the sky is the limit; now he wants to give more young New Zealanders the chance to find their ‘thing’ and fulfil their goals and ambitions in life.

The 28-year-old youth worker is using his AMP Scholarship to launch a social enterprise café that aims to give young people the skills and confidence to discover what they too are capable of.
“All of us grow up with a 'ceiling' on our belief,” says Scottie. And some kids grow up with a really low ceiling – for them the idea of being able to dream about a good life and a significant life is a dream too big.

“But through the process of learning a hands-on skill and finding they can be really excellent at it, they develop confidence and the 'ceiling' lifts.”

Scottie is Wellington Regional Manager for Zeal, a not-for-profit youth organisation that aims to support young people through creative arts, leadership and education.

He applied for an AMP Scholarship last year, and has used it to help fund his work setting up the café, which will be an extension of Zeal’s ten-week barista training programme – giving its students the real-world experience needed to “slingshot” them into successful full-time employment.

In the ultimate example of a win-win business, any profits generated will in turn help fund Zeal’s other projects.

“There’s this idea today that young people are only worth what they can afford; only worth the products that they own, or the music they listen to, or the fashion they're into. We really believe that young people have an inherent value beyond that.

“At Zeal we want to take them from just being consumers to being contributors, and employment's a really great way to do that, I think.”

Tawa-born Scottie says his own life has been one of comparative privilege, and he feels a sense of responsibility to do something good with that. He also loves setting goals that are “outside my comfort zone”, which explains his willingness to persevere even when he was turned down for funding several times before securing an AMP Scholarship.

“The AMP Scholarship was actually the first support that we got for the project. It really picked up momentum after that, and between November when I got the Scholarship, and February this year, we raised a further $80,000. We’re just in the very final stages of fundraising right now.”

In keeping with Scottie’s creative, out-of-the-box thinking, the café will be based in a converted shipping container on a site in central Wellington.

He expects it to be up and running before the end of the year, and is hopeful its young staff will gain the confidence to do their ‘thing’, and perhaps one day apply for their own AMP Scholarship.

“The only way that each generation comes up and fulfils everything that's possible for them, is if the people who went before them can take the time cheer them on, to support them and mentor them.

“This project is saying, actually young people don't just want to take. They don't just want to sit passively back and let society throw things at them. They want to participate and make a meaningful contribution.”