Graeme Dingle Foundation Far North – Whangaroa Kiwi Can Charitable Trust
Posted on: 13/09/21
Kiwi Can is based on the theory that you can build self-efficacy and strengthen basic values by supporting the individual. In August 2020, The Whangaroa Kiwi Can Charitable Trust (now known as Graeme Dingle Foundation Far North), received a grant of $5000 from Northland Community Foundation’s Northland Grassroots Fund.
The grant helped Kiwi Can to provide support to over 850 students in 11 low decile Far North schools by contributing to the costs of travel to each school for the Kiwi Can leaders. Kiwi Can is a life skills and values programme delivered to the whole school by trained Kiwi Can leaders with every child attending a Kiwi Can lesson once a week, every week of the school year. Kiwi Can is underpinned by this whakatauki (proverb): Iti rearea, kahikatea tei tei, ka taea
Even the small rearea bird can ascend to the great heights of the Kahikatea tree.
“Students are learning to problem solve by using their words when they are having trouble in their friendships” - Principal Oruaiti School*
“Kiwi Can brings a new perspective to learning” – Head of Primary, Taipa Area School*
Kiwi Can builds students resilience, self confidence and their sense of self-worth. The children are encouraged to set goals, take risks and persevere even when it is hard. “the lessons help students to engage with others outside of their comfort zone”– Principal Te Hapua and Ngataki Schools*
The positive engagement of the children participating in the program is shown in the wonderful feedback given in a survey of the students:
We have learnt this year “being kind to each other and show kaitakitanga to everybody around you” – Year 6 girl, Ngataki school “Kiwi Can is a great energy packed programme that teaches values such as integrity and respect, helps build resilience and delivers fun filled learning” – Year 9 girl at Te Hapua School.
Northland Community Foundation is proud to support a program that helps students at schools in Northland’s most disadvantaged areas to improve their engagement at school, their relationships with their peers, teachers and others, and their belief in themselves and their abilities.
Northland Community Foundation’s grants allocation panel chose to support Kiwi Can again in the recent 2021 funding round, so that Northland’s tamariki can continue to receive the benefits of the program.
*Quotes are taken from MoE survey 2020
Children in the program learn the core values that will help them become productive, caring members of the community. The Kiwi Can program works to build the students understanding of positive relationships and communication, therefore improving the relationships between students and staff and reducing incidents of bullying.
The students’ enthusiasm for the program also improves their attitude to school in general and increases their engagement in learning.
To find out more about the 2021 Northland Grassroots Fund Allocations click here: Who We’ve Helped
To find out more about the Northland Grassroots Fund click here: Grassroots Fund
You can donate to the fund here: Community Fund
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