Our Vision

P3 Foundation stands for empowering young people to take a stand to end extreme poverty in the Asia Pacific region within our generation. It is our mission to provide young people with the opportunity to be active volunteers in achieving this goal.

Our History

P3 Foundation was conceived over coffee with friends, on a December day in 2009, by our founder 2010’s Young New Zealander of the year, Dr Divya Dhar. Since then, we have grown as an organization. The seedlings for our grassroots initiatives to empower other young people have been planted, whilst our collaborations with other organizations to establish a united front to ending extreme poverty is also being developed.

Our Goals

1.4 billion people in the world live in extreme poverty. That is; they live on less than NZD 2.25 per day, without access to the most basic needs, including health care, water, food, peace, education – and the opportunity to pursue their dreams. We, at P3, not only think this is plain wrong, but we think it is in the best interests of each and every one of us to promote economic and social development to create a better world.

The largest number of people living in extreme poverty, live in the Asia Pacific region. For this reason, as well as the fact that it is our home region, is why we have concentrated our efforts to understanding and working with other grassroots partners to make a real, active difference within the region.

As we go forward, we remain at heart and in truth, a fully volunteer organization, with youth from all disciplines in high schools, universities and young professionals. We hope to become the collective voice of young Kiwis all over New Zealand, advocating for an end to poverty within our region.

Founder’s Story – “Flying on a Bicycle”

“During my medical elective, I endeavoured on a project to build houses for one of Costa Rica’s poorest region. Having suffered through a severe flooding, this region had no running water or electricity and most houses were constructed using corrugated iron and mud floors. I met a 9 year old girl whose family home was one that we were building. She knew no English and I, no Spanish. From the moment we met, she sought to teach me Spanish. As our friendship grew, she took me on a bicycle ride, one that changed my life.

As we were riding, she turned around and with a smile of mischief, like she was going to show me something cool. She proceeded to take both her hands off the bike. I was impressed. Then she took both feet off the paddles and stood on the bicycle. I was very impressed, but also apprehensive about what may happen next. Indeed, she turned around and her expression said ‘aren’t you going to try?’ I hesitated but eventually took one hand off, then the next and I fell like a pack of cards. I will never forget her look of disbelief. She could not believe that someone from one of the richest countries in the world could not do something as simple as riding a bike with no hands!

That is the day I realized that we all have our own talents but in essence, we are all the same. I realized that the world is unfair and that my life has been rich through no merit of my own, and her talents were limited through no fault of her own. She was merely born into circumstances that were unable to foster her talents.

On my last day with her, I asked her in my Spanglish what she would like to do when she grows up. She replied – a teacher. I knew that she would be a brilliant teacher from the first day I met her. Then I realized that if I could help children like her fulfill their dreams, they would lift their own communities out of poverty.”  – Dr Divya Dhar