Empowering young Kiwis - SavY Trust

A HealthCarePlus Grant for Good is helping a student-led trust deliver life-changing financial education to thousands of young New Zealanders.

Founded in 2008, SavY is a student-led charitable trust with a powerful mission: empowering young people across Aotearoa with practical financial literacy skills. What makes them unique? Their facilitators are university students themselves, bringing fresh energy and lived experience to every session.

“Many of our facilitators, fresh out of high school and into university, have lived through that uncertainty and ‘figuring it out’ firsthand,” explains Adam Wong-Toi, Chief Executive of SavY, based at the University of Auckland Business School. “We’ve seen just how much of a difference it makes when financial literacy is taught by peers in a way that’s relatable and relevant." 

Thanks to HealthCarePlus’s Grants for Good funding, SavY has been able to dramatically expand its reach. The grant has supported the delivery of 200 workshops, reaching more than 5,000 New Zealanders with practical, engaging financial literacy education that covers everything from budgeting and debt management to KiwiSaver, investing, tax and insurance.

This impact goes beyond just numbers. SavY’s curriculum-aligned workshops are designed to tackle the everyday financial challenges that traditional education often overlooks, covering topics like personal budgeting, student loans, online purchasing and understanding insurance policies.

"SavY began in 2008, inspired by the gap we saw between the school curriculum and the real-world financial knowledge young people actually need once they step out of the classroom,” Adam says. "This peer-to-peer approach ensures that complex financial concepts are conveyed in a way that resonates with young audiences".

The grant has also enabled SavY to invest heavily in their volunteer facilitators through professional development, mentoring and leadership opportunities. This dual approach ensures high-quality delivery while equipping young leaders with valuable skills in communication, education and social impact.

“We’re now better able to invest in training, mentorship and industry engagement opportunities for our team, which not only improves the quality of our workshops but also helps our facilitators grow as leaders and changemakers in their own right,” Adam explains.

Perhaps most importantly, SavY’s work creates lasting change beyond the classroom. Their workshops actively promote conversations about money and finance, topics that many young people find intimidating or taboo.

“Having more conversations about these topics will help improve and positively impact not only those who attend our workshops, but also those with whom they converse and spark conversations,” says Adam.

SavY’s experience with HealthCarePlus has been overwhelmingly positive. “The application process was clear and easy to navigate, and the communication from the team was responsive and helpful throughout.”

With 200 workshops planned for 2025, SavY continues to grow on its founders’ vision that “no matter what your background, you should have access to financial education”. Through HealthCarePlus’s support, they’re making that vision a reality for thousands of young New Zealanders across the country.

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