Mazda Foundation gives a helping hand to Kiwi’s in need

19 August 2016

Mazda Foundation gives a helping hand to Kiwi’s in need

The Mazda Foundation has awarded its second round of funding for 2016, donating almost $65,000 to 23 individuals, charities and community groups across the country.

Each year the Foundation hosts three funding rounds to help New Zealanders in need, having gifted $2.5 million back to the community since its inception in 2005.

This round of grants included 20-year-old Zaina Almesfer from Whitford, Auckland who lives with Angelman Syndrome, a non-progressive neurogenic disorder that affects her intellectual ability, speech, movement and balance.

The Mazda Foundation granted Zaina’s family $7,213 to purchase a two-person trike, enabling her to explore the local community safely with her parents. Zaina’s mother Ibtehaj says the grant will immensely help her daughter who has no safety awareness and needs adult supervision at all times.

“Zaina loves to move around, explore and feel the breeze on her face, however being unable to pedal a standard trike means someone has to push her around the playground or park, which can be a demanding task.

“The new trike’s not only a great tool for development, keeping Zaina engaged and helping to improve her ability to maintain sitting, but it’ll also allow her to socialise and engage with other people, something she loves to do. Zaina is the youngest of seven children, so it’ll be great not only for my husband and I, but for her siblings to spend quality time with her doing an activity she enjoys,” she says.

The House of Science in Tauranga received $6,025.71 to purchase a set of Floor Robots (Blue Bots) to incorporate in a new educational kit on programmable robots for children and youth.

House of Science endeavour to get children involved in science by making innovative and tangible learning resources accessible to all socio-economic levels in the wider Tauranga area.

Chris Duggan, Founder and Director at House of Science says science is not directly funded in schools and many primary and intermediate schools lack the resources and confidence to teach science.

“We want to get as many children engaged in science as physically possible. The new ‘bots will be a great learning tool that will not only introduce the children to innovative technology and raise their understanding of programming but will get them actively thinking and problem solving.

“These kits will provide many children with the access to robots and programming, who otherwise would not have had such opportunity” she says.

Headland Sculpture on the Gulf is New Zealand’s premier outdoor sculpture exhibition, presenting significant new contemporary works to the public every second year at Matiatia Bay. The Waiheke based organisation, received $5,175 to develop an education programme to engage the local, visitor and student community in participative programmes that excite their interest and enhance their appreciation and understanding of contemporary art.

Andrew Clearwater, Chairman of the Mazda Foundation says they are proud to be in a position where they can give something back to deserving individuals, organisations and charities across New Zealand.
“Each and every round The Mazda Foundation are blown away by the amount of good going on in our local communities and we are grateful to be able to give something back and help these people and organisations continue their remarkable work.

“Whether it’s supporting people in need or helping those going above and beyond to further the education of our children, it really is amazing to see how a little can go such a long way.”

The Mazda Foundation is funded through a contribution from the sale of every new Mazda in New Zealand.

The closing date for the next round of Mazda Foundation applications is 30 September 2016. For more information or to download an application form, visit www.mazdafoundation.org.nz.

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