New Trust to Correct Dyslexia in NZ Kids

New Charitable Trust to Correct Dyslexia in NZ Kids

Founders of Cookie Time, brothers Guy and Michael Mayell, have announced a nationwide initiative to raise funds through the Cookie Munchers Charitable Trust with its primary aim being to correct dyslexia in New Zealand children.

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning difficulties for New Zealand children as they face each school day. The Trust will raise awareness and provide scholarships for school aged children to participate in the Davis Dyslexia Correction Programme, which has a 97 per cent success rate. The scholarships will be awarded to students who would otherwise struggle financially to take part.

Guy Pope-Mayell, Trustee of Cookie Munchers Charitable Trust says the Trust assists children and young people by being a leader and an innovator in the education sector. “A primary focus of the Trust is to help New Zealand children address learning difficulties caused by dyslexia. “We are committed to providing innovative and proactive leadership in education in order to make a real difference in children¹s lives,” he says.

Academy Award winner Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop who benefited from being a dyslexic as a child says, “For too long in New Zealand dyslexia has been seen as a disability.

“Although it lessens a child¹s ability to grasp certain things, it also opens up the mind to lateral thought, creative thinking and can give a young child inspiration beyond their peers. “Dyslexia may not complement a traditional schooling system but it certainly can develop an active and fervent mind. “Organisations such as the Cookie Munchers Charitable Trust help pave the way for children who may not be comfortable in a mainstream learning environment to experience the success they richly deserve,” says Taylor.

Pope-Mayell says, "The Davis Dyslexia Correction programme provides early intervention for what can otherwise be years of frustration and 'failure' for kids, and bring out the inherent creativity which often accompanies dyslexia.”

The drive to raise $1 million by Christmas begins this week with Cookie Muncher soft toys being sold by 75 students on their annual Cookie Time Christmas Cookies sales campaign.

Cookie Time itself donated 40,000 soft toys to ensure the full $25 purchase price goes to the Trust to benefit children. More information about the Trust¹s work can be sourced online: http://www.cmct.org.nz

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