New Zealand
20 MARCH 2007
Support available for projects that promote child safety and participation in the Waikato
Grants of up to $5000 are available from Save the Children to fund individuals and organisations (including children and young persons) working to promote children’s rights in New Zealand – and a special fund is available especially for the Waikato. Projects should contribute to one or more of these goals: improving child participation, increasing child safety, reducing discrimination or reducing child poverty.
Applications close on April 15, 2007. The Save the Children Small Grants Fund was established in the year 2000 and is allocated twice a year in April and September.
Over the years the scheme has supported many local initiatives including helping the community, children and families to address issues of child abuse, improve leadership skills amongst young people and providing training for children and young people.
Recent allocations in the Waikato include a grant of $5000 to theHamilton Abuse Intervention Project (HAIP). This agency was established to assist in the coordination of services provided by criminal justice agencies, which could help reduce the levels of violence against women and children. The funding from Save the Children was targeted towards the Youth Programmes run by HAIP.
A grant of $1844 was given to the McKenzie Centre in Hamilton to support staff development and to provide additional tools to help in their work to support families of children with disabilities. Assisting families when they are in the early years of coping with a child with disabilities can contribute to reductions in child abuse, family breakdown and violence.
"Save the Children's Small Grants programme provides a great opportunity for children, young people and organisations working with them to make a positive difference to their communities. We encourage people who have concrete proposals for lifting the wellbeing of children in their communities to apply," John Bowis, Executive Director, Save the Children New Zealand said.
All of the projects funded through Save the Children’s Small Grants Fund address various aspects of children’s rights as promoted by Save the Children and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
For more information
Application forms and further information are available on the website: www.savethechildren.org.nz/new_zealand/nz_programme/small_grants_fund/main.html.