Making a tangible difference.
The causes of poverty can be debated but there is almost universal agreement on the value of education. Children who grasp the power of learning have the power to change their future.
However, not every child starts on an equal footing. For the one in six New Zealand children living in poverty (source: Child Poverty Action Group), the school day may mean staying at home on a wet day or turning up cold and wet from the winter rain. It means not being sure of three meals a day and filling up with water from the school drinking fountain. Any teacher will tell you that children who have to cope with these conditions will struggle to keep up with lessons.
This is where KidsCan makes a difference. Our programmes help relieve the practical issues of adequate food and clothing amongst kids in lower socio economic areas. We assist schools where the needs are most acute and provide them with resources to overcome the physical obstacles to education. Simple, tangible things – food, shoes and raincoats – can make a powerful difference to a child’s start in life.