Variety Implores Kiwis to Get Kids Off Waiting List

Universal Children’s Day: Variety Implores Kiwis to Get Kids Off Waiting List

Universal Children’s Day aims to benefit and promote the welfare of the world’s children. And it is on this day, 20 November, that Variety – the Children’s Charity implores New Zealanders to sponsor one of the 370 children on its Kiwi Kid Sponsorship wait list.

Variety started the Kiwi Kid Sponsorship programme in 2013. Today, 3,268 New Zealand children are provided basic items like warm bedding, sturdy shoes, school stationery, a school uniform, basic healthcare and money for school trips, sport and swimming lessons who would otherwise have gone without.

Kiwi Kid Sponsorship is a one-to-one programme, with genuine relationships being built between the sponsor and sponsored child and their family. Sponsors receive regular communication from updates from the child.

Evidence shows that Variety's Kiwi Kid Sponsorship has a significant impact on sponsored children’s social inclusion, education, family dynamics and health and has positive impacts on the whole family.

The programme fills a unique gap by providing practical support for families that cannot be accessed elsewhere.

Variety CEO Lorraine Taylor says that unfortunately, Kiwi Kid Sponsorship is needed now more than ever and wants to get the message out to New Zealanders that this is a powerful way to help children currently living in poverty to have access to opportunities many of us take for granted.

CEO of Variety, Lorraine Taylor says: “Poverty remains the biggest issue facing children in our country today. It’s a complex issue but Variety believes that by working together with government, other community and corporate organisations and individuals we will go a long way to solving this issue that impacts so many of our children.

“Programmes such as Kiwi Kid Sponsorship address the urgent 'here and now' need in our communities.

“We are fortunate that there are so many New Zealanders who are willing to support children in genuine need through our Kiwi Kid Sponsorship programme.

“But there are so many more children that need help so they can access the basic essentials and opportunities so many of us take for granted.”

Rachel, a Kiwi Kid Sponsor, says:

“I was really happy when Variety started doing Kiwi kid sponsorship in 2013. I had always wanted to sponsor a child, but wanted it to be a Kiwi kid as (I) knew that were lots of Kiwi kids that needed help. We love that we are helping Athena get to do important things like swimming
lessons, have a school uniform or a winter coat.

I have three children; my eldest is eight - the same age as Athena. Sponsorship is a valuable lesson for them, that helping those in need is important. It also helps them realise how lucky they are having a warm house, warm clothes and lunch every day as some children in New Zealand sadly don't”.

ENDS

About Variety – the Children’s Charity:

We believe that every child deserves the same opportunities to reach their full potential. Variety provides tailored, flexible support to disadvantaged children in New Zealand. We work alongside schools, community agencies, socialworkers and healthcare professionals to identify children in need. Variety provides disadvantaged children with basic essentials (such as warm bedding and school uniforms), one-off grants for additional needs (such as medical and mobility equipment) and access to extra-curricular activities (such as school camp or swimming lessons). With our support, they have access to the same opportunities as other kids, a happier, healthier childhood and the foundation for a better future.

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