Happy birthday, two words principally filled with an abundance of memories we reminisce on and cherish. The laughter, and gaiety present throughout the day, a party surrounded by family and friends celebrating another year of growth on this earth.

In such a developed nation like New Zealand, widely perceived as a diverse, free and uncorrupted utopia, it holds some dark confounding realities.

The 2017 Child Poverty Monitor research uncovered a staggering revelation, 290,000 New Zealand children are currently living in income poverty, the majority of whom are deprived of a birthday party due to the families circumstantial financial issues.

Operating under the Young Enterprise scheme, our business Boomerang seeks to solve a prevalent wicked problem in our community, providing opportunities and experiences to children in poverty through the means of a birthday party.

The definition of a boomerang is, “a curved stick that, when thrown in a particular way, comes back to the person who threw”. Hence the name of our business, because we believe that when you give to the community, you receive an abundance more return. The phrase you “reap what you sow” encapsulates the essence of our business, as we aim to enable others to be more charitable to the suffering in our community.

Child poverty has been defined as the deprivation of the fundamental material, spiritual and emotional resources enabling survival, development and prosperity.

Thus the majority of these children are unable even to experience the fruits of these requisites, including achieving optimal cognitive competence or participating as equal members of society. Conclusive research states that impoverished children exhibit more antisocial conduct and increased feelings of helplessness than children from higher income families.

A child is acutely aware when their parents struggle financially, especially in regards to scholastic matters. Many experience deep-rooted feelings of embarrassment and shame when unable to afford the books, uniform, shared lunches or trips. The associated stigma can impact on the emotional wellbeing of children and young people growing up in poverty and lead to loneliness, depression and a loss of confidence. As a child grows in this environment, it significantly inhibits their emotional wellbeing, further perpetuating the feelings of failure and the gloomy and ominous outlook of life. Poverty exposes these children to a myriad of disadvantageous issues, they are often the victims of chronic physiological stress due to such intense environments, and furthermore, are on the trajectory of developing additional psychological problems.

Self-esteem, the necessary armour required to face the challenges present in this world, is unjustly robbed from these children, leaving them exposed to difficult confrontation. The inevitable propensity ingrained in these young lives is a mentality of survival, which can take on many manifestations. Life becomes a strained existence devoid of the many simplistic yet essential components that enrich life and makes it memorable.

An often overlooked aspect of birthdays is the physiological importance it holds within the child. Acknowledging their unique day, one that further enables parents to demonstrate the love they have for them, which holds immense significance. A sense of worth and belonging is instilled into the child, which significantly impacts their growth process and self-esteem. In addition, it provides an excellent opportunity for children to socialise with friends and make memories that they will carry forward throughout their entire life.

While many organisations exist in New Zealand that cater to the materialistic needs of these children, few exist to provide the range of valuable opportunities and experiences all children need. We are here to change that, by connecting the hundreds of children that the Lower Hutt Salvation Army provides basic care for, with a birthday party celebrated with friends, at venues such as Junglerama, accompanied with the transport required to get there. Comprised of four enthusiastic members, our businesses vision consists of a Wellington region where every child in poverty gets a chance to smile on their birthday.

Children are treasures in clay, constantly molded and shaped by their experiences and environments, we as a society play an imperative role in this process, and it is our obligation to extend out our hands. The time will come to pass the baton onto the next generation, by investing more in our countries children we all benefit by supporting a future New zealand full of of innovation, productivity, economic growth and social cohesion.

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