Help Kmart shine a light on Kiwi kids

Help Kmart shine a light on Kiwi kids through local Stars programmes

June 30 2016, Kmart New Zealand is showing its support for local communities for the third year running through its partnership with the Graeme Dingle Foundation, formally known as the Foundation for Youth Development.

Kiwis are encouraged to support the Foundation’s Stars programme by heading into their local Kmart store to make a donation.

The Stars programme facilitates a successful transition to high school for the entire Year 9 cohort through team building and weekly group peer mentoring with senior students. It creates a sense of belonging and a positive school community. Young people stay, engage and achieve. Peer mentors develop confidence and lifelong leadership skills.

Fawziya Alio has been involved in the Stars programme as a mentor while at Manurewa High School and believes it was invaluable in giving her direction.

“I was a shy person before Stars. Very quiet and in my own space. Stars has made me more confident and more actively involved in the community,” she says.

From July 9-24 across all 19 Kmart NZ stores, customer greeters will be handing out balloons in exchange for a donation towards the Stars programme. Collection tins and donation functions on self-serve checkouts will also be available for customers to make a contribution.

Kmart NZ director Sue Smith, said “our partnership with the Graeme Dingle Foundation allows us to widen our Kmart family to support Kiwi kids in gaining the skills required to reach success in life, whether that is in their schooling, the workforce or within their local community.”

“One day, we hope to see these kids in store, wearing our Kmart uniform and playing an integral role in the success of the Kmart New Zealand business and wider community,” said Sue.

The Graeme Dingle Foundation is a leader in the field of child youth development, running successful programmes to help support Kiwi Kids. The Foundation uses these programmes to develop core life skills in Kiwi kids that in turn helps them find purpose and direction.

Graeme Dingle, co-founder of the Graeme Dingle Foundation is thrilled with the continued support received from Kmart.

“The Stars programme provides year nine students with the confidence to succeed, improved communication skills, time management, and planning skills, to help them during their first year of secondary school and to stay in school. It also allows the senior students to develop leadership skills through mentoring the Year 9 students,” says Graeme.

“We encourage everyone to get on board with the fantastic fundraiser Kmart has put together so we can continue to deliver this programme to the students who need it,” he adds.

Including Manurewa High School, the Stars programme operates within twelve schools throughout the Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and Canterbury regions.

ENDS

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