Every Child Counts In Paeroa
Paeroa's Skate and Leisure Centre will undergo a refurbishment to provide additional space for new children's
activities, with support from a SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust grant.
The previously unused upstairs area of the Skate and Leisure centre will become a Children's Art House. Renovations
include demolition work, new stairs, addition of a bathroom and a kitchen with new dishwashers. The Children's Art House
will provide music tuition (piano, guitar and drums), holiday programmes for children and, shortly, a breakfast club for
children and youth.
Melanie Budge, Paeroa Community Support Trust, says the children have been fantastic throughout the renovations and
they're eager to be involved in the activities.
"Music tuition started a short time ago and we've had to use a temporary space until the renovations are finished. Our
centre will be home to some great events for children and the community. The Children's Art House is going to be a
wonderful place to run all our children's programmes."
During Easter the NZ Children's Art House Foundation Trust exhibited hundreds of artworks produced by children, at the
Easter Show held in Auckland. The artwork is now in Paeroa to be exhibited on 16 April at the new Children's Art House
in 120 Normandy Road, Paeroa. The theme for the artwork is 'Every Child Counts'. Every Child Counts is a project aimed
at supporting children and youth developed in partnership with Barnardos, UNICEF, Save the Children New Zealand,
Plunket, Maori Women's Welfare League, National Network of stopping Violence, Institute of Public Policy and Auckland
University of Technology.
"Children can tell their story through their artwork, incorporating their dreams and ideas. Paeroa women spent hours
making 8 x 2 metre high banners, for the Easter Show, with every child's name handwritten on them, to raise the profile
of children in New Zealand and giving them a chance to have their ideas heard," says Mrs Budge.
Margaret Evans, Chairperson SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust says, "The Trust is thrilled to contribute towards the
costs of establishing an improved community centre, where children can learn and develop their creative and social
skills. It's wonderful that these children are being given the opportunity to express themselves through art and music."
The SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust was established in 2003, as part of the SKYCITY Hamilton licence application
process, to provide funds for community and charitable purposes. To date, the Trust has distributed more than $850,000
in grants to the Waikato Community and recently announced the successful recipients from its second funding round.
ENDS