The KidsCan Charitable Trust was started in 2005 in a garage in Greenhithe, Auckland by Julie Chapman (nee Helson) and co-founder Carl Sunderland. An evaluation was conducted in 80 low decile schools after hearing continuous media reports about New Zealand children going without the basics. We wanted to find out just how widespread the problem was and how it was affecting children’s ability to participate in class.
The evaluation revealed that thousands of children were turning up to school cold, wet and hungry because their parents were struggling to make ends meet. Schools reported that this was having a major impact on children’s learning ability, self esteem and health. Children who miss out on the basics get sick more often, do worse at school and when they become adults they are more likely to be unemployed and have children who will also grow up in poverty.
With all of this in mind we decided to do something about it and KidsCan was started with a generous $40,000 grant from Guardian Trust. Today KidsCan supports the education of thousands of children in 468 low decile schools throughout New Zealand, providing food, shoes, socks, fleece lined Vodafone Warriors raincoats and basic hygiene items. Our tangible programmes ensure disadvantaged children can get to and through the schools gates in a better position to learn. Find out how you can help support our work.