Twenty-one years of ChildFund in New Zealand

Media release Tuesday 21 June 2011

Twenty-one years of ChildFund in New Zealand

A unique 21st birthday celebration takes place in Auckland on Wednesday (22 June) as a group of some of the longest serving child sponsors gather to celebrate 21 years of supporting children in developing countries through ChildFund New Zealand.

The attendees represent more than 300 Kiwis who have sponsored a child with the organisation since its inception in New Zealand in 1990.

Collectively this group has supported 664 children and are joined by tens of thousands of other Kiwis who have sponsored a total of 54,000 children in developing countries over the last 21 years.

ChildFund CEO Paul Brown says the enormous impact New Zealanders have made in the developing world through child sponsorship and other programmes deserves recognition.

“Personally, our sponsors probably know the change they have brought to these children’s lives through sponsorship, but they may not be so aware that their commitment has enabled specialised, dedicated programmes that amplify our impact in these developing countries.

“Kiwis are enabling entire communities to be provided with the necessities of life, and with ChildFund’s help, they can become sustainable in their own right.”

“It’s little-known that more than 1,600 New Zealand sponsors support children in Emali, a dedicated project in Kenya funded solely by Kiwis who have enabled dramatic improvements across the community in just 9 years.*

“Emali is effectively an entire neighbourhood where Kiwis have affected demonstrable change for good.”

Over the last 21 years and in 30 countries, sponsorship has enabled ChildFund New Zealand to:
• Provide greater access to quality education through the construction of numerous schools and leading teacher training programmes, and increase access to schooling for disabled children.
• Develop the concept and practice of ‘Child Centred Spaces’ as a global standard for NGOs.
• Improve hygiene, access to clean water and increased food security through safe water programmes and infrastructure, and agricultural training.
• Improve child health through supplementary feeding, immunisation and regular health monitoring as a key measurement of success.
• Develop safer and more prosperous communities by working to safeguard the rights of children, strengthening community governance and promoting women’s roles as community stewards and leaders.
• Provide 20,000 practical gifts of blankets, first aid kits, farming resources and animals such as chickens, sheep and cows to name a few through the Gifts that Grow programme.

ENDS

* What New Zealand sponsors have enabled in Emali, Kenya since 2002:

Thousands of people have greater access to safer water:
­ Distance to water sources halved
­ 1 x natural Spring protected
­ 2 x water pumps and 6 x tanks installed, with extended connections to homes and schools
­ 2 x sand dams built for livestock and irrigation
­ Training in water use and conservation
­ 1500 x water treatment kits provided

Food security has increased:
­ 4 x demonstration farms established and 66 local farmers trained
­ 28 x ploughs provided and 322 acres of farm land leased for parents
­ 4500 fruit trees planted

Children have access to quality education, helping them stay safer and healthier, and eventually break free from poverty:
­ 4 x classrooms built
­ 2 x early childhood centres constructed and supplied with learning and play materials
­ 9 toilets constructed
­ 1000 x school uniforms and materials for vulnerable children
­ 800 youth provided health and social support
­ 600 children regularly monitored for health and growth
­ Teachers, parents and children educated about children rights and protects

Emergency relief is available when needed. During the 2009 food crisis and drought:
­ Supplementary food for nearly 1000 mothers and 2,500 children
­ 2000 children de-wormed, immunised and monitored
­ 2300 x treated mosquito nets provided

The overall impact is a healthier, safer and more prosperous community that is breaking free from poverty and building the foundation for a self-sufficient and sustainable future.

About ChildFund New Zealand
ChildFund New Zealand is a member of the ChildFund Alliance, an international child development organisation with more than 70 years of experience helping the world's neediest children, which works in 54 countries, assisting 16 million children and family members regardless of race, creed or gender.

ChildFund New Zealand works for the well-being of children by supporting locally led initiatives that strengthen families and communities, helping them overcome poverty and protect the rights of their children.

ChildFund's comprehensive programmes incorporate health, education, nutrition and livelihood interventions that sustainably protect, nurture and develop children. ChildFund works in any environment where poverty, conflict and disaster threaten the well-being of children.

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