7 February 2012
Purple Cake Day Announces Aid for Kenya in 2013
The fast-growing international charity Purple Cake Day aims to raise NZD$100,000 this year, which will enable them to
extend their support to a new education project helping children in Kenya to change their lives through education.
Purple Cake Day, which was founded in Nelson, New Zealand and has gone international in just three years, is raising
funds through a host of activities including the Global Day of Action, Purple Cake Day 8 March 2013. This will enable
the charity to sustain support for education projects in Haiti and Nepal, and extend this to Kenya through a new
partnership with the Hilde Back Education Fund (HBEF).
Founder Emily Sanson-Rejouis, who began Purple Cake Day after losing her husband and two daughters in the tragic Haiti
earthquake in 2010, hopes to see more than 500 schools around New Zealand and internationally participate in the Purple
Cake Day Global Day of Action.
“Purple Cake Day activities encourage our kids to learn about children in hardship in other countries, and take action
to help them,” says Emily. “Purple Cake Day is about celebrating, and having fun, as well as developing compassion,
respect, and leadership. We hope kids will learn, early on, that what they do really can make a difference.
“The first year we held Purple Cake Day, we raised $30,000. Last year we aimed to double that and hit $80,000, which was
just fantastic. This year we’re aiming even higher!”
The newest recipient of Purple Cake Day support, the Hilde Back Education Fund, helps talented kids from poor families
in Kenya get access to education. HBEF founded by United Nations Human Rights Specialist Chris Mburu, who, through the
small act of an anonymous donation, got the education that now enables him to help others.
“We are thrilled to have this partnership with Purple Cake Day,” says Chris. “This will enable hundreds of desperately
needy children in Kenya to access an education that will help them secure a bright future.”
Fergus Broman, Chairman of the Children of Haiti Project (COHP) Board, and CEO of The International Educator, says COHP
is also very grateful to continue to partner with Purple Cake Day this year.
“Since sustainability is one of our key challenges, an organization like Purple Cake Day can really make a difference
because they don’t focus on one-time donations, they set fundraising goals for their partner charities, forming a more
lasting partnership than a typical fundraiser.”
Dame Suzie Moncreiff, Patron of Purple Cake Day, says that the charity is doing something very significant by raising
awareness, both locally and internationally, of the hardship children face around the world.
“Many children must fight just to get what we consider basic rights here in New Zealand,” she says. “I’m proud to
support Purple Cake Day in its endeavours to make a difference through education.”
Purple Cake Day Schools Coordinator Hannah Cameron says the best way to get involved is to download the free Resource Kit from the Purple Cake Day website.
“The Resource Kit is a multi-level curriculum resource, designed mainly for teachers and students, but it can be used by
anyone,” says Hannah. “It’s contains lots of ideas for learning and fundraising activities, information about the
education projects we support, including the new project the Hilde Back Education Fund, and our 2013 Country in Focus,
Kenya.”
Parents, teachers, schools, and students can also get a free fundraising page through the Purple Cake Day website, which
will allow them to share their Purple Cake Day activities with friends and family.
About Purple Cake Day
Purple Cake Day is a charity that supports children to get the education they need to break the poverty cycle and create
a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities. The Purple Cake Day Global Day of Action is 8
March 2013.
Purple Cake Day is about kids helping kids. It celebrates and connects children all over the world, and helps them learn
about their role in the global community. It aims to grow our children’s spirit of compassion, respect, and leadership.
Education is the single most important factor in reducing poverty – but currently accounts for only 2% of humanitarian
aid. Purple Cake Day partners with established projects in developing countries to ensure that we provide direct and
effective benefit to children in need.
Purple Cake Day 2013 aims to raise NZD$100,000 to sustain current education support for children in Haiti and Nepal, and
extend this support to children in Kenya.
Purple Cake Day is an initiative of the Kenbe La Foundation Charitable Trust, a New Zealand Registered Trust. (no
CC44756).
The Kenbe La Foundation Charitable Trust and Purple Cake Day were founded by humanitarian Emily Sanson-Rejouis following
the loss of her husband Emmanuel (39) and daughters, Kofie-Jade (5) and Zenzie (3), in the Haiti Earthquake in January
2010.
For more information visit www.purplecakeday.org
ENDS