Well-known Kiwi Dads go bare this Father’s Day

22 August 2012

Well-known Kiwi Dads go bare this Father’s Day

ChildFund New Zealand and a host of well-known Kiwi dads are asking fathers around the country to bare their ‘souls’ and soles to help children in developing countries this Father’s Day, by asking them to go barefoot.

The call is attracting the support of a line-up of celebrated Kiwi fathers from around the country, including Paul Ego, Jeremy Corbett, Tim Shadbolt, Simon Shepherd, Simon Barnett, Clint Brown and Gary McCormick, each of whom has committed to going barefoot at work to mark Father’s Day.

The purpose is to join an online campaign in which ChildFund is encouraging Kiwis to gift a pair of essential shoes and socks to a child in need this Father’s Day.

ChildFund New Zealand CEO Paul Brown says shoes and socks are luxury items for many children in developing countries, and at just $23 can provide a truly meaningful gift for Dad this Father’s Day.

“In Africa it is common for children to walk an average of four hours each day to and from school, in blistering heat or freezing cold with no protection on their feet from nasties."

ChildFund New Zealand is ‘walking the talk’ themselves with local staff and off-shore team members supporting the campaign by going barefoot for a day on August 23rd.

“We want to have some fun with this in the lead up to Father’s Day,” Paul Brown says. “Baring our ‘souls’ is one way of doing that, and we’re asking others to put their best feet forward with a photo of their bare feet online, fully named and accountable!”

Photo contributors can also post an anecdote of a ‘soul-baring’ moment to their children where words of fatherly advice have not gone quite the way they’d hoped.

Comedian Paul Ego recalls a funny moment with his children, “I was watching my episode of the TV3 comedy travel series Funny Roots with my wife and twelve year old son. I'd forgotten that within the show there was a stand-up routine in which I talk about my two kids, saying "I've got two children, one of each, one who's easily annoyed and one who's very annoying". My son looked up at me and went "Which one am I Dad?" I think I may have mumbled something about him probably being adopted so he had nothing to worry about.”

Paul Brown said, “As a dad myself I know we all have moments where we bare our souls to our children with precious words of advice, only to have them taken all-too literally, or ignored completely. These are the times I wish they could walk in my shoes for a day!”

‘Bare feet’ photos and corresponding stories will be shared online in the lead up to Father’s Day via ChildFund New Zealand’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/childfundnewzealand.

Join well-known Kiwi dads in supporting ChildFund New Zealand this Father’s Day by donating $23 to gift a pair of shoes and socks via www.childfund.org.nz.

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.

ENDS

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