Christchurch Support
Christchurch Support
Children in Christchurch need our help!
We can help restore love, laughter and security to vulnerable children recently victimized by disastrous earthquakes.
Two Massive earthquakes struck Christchurch New Zealand during the past year, causing damages in excess of $16 Billion and claiming 181 lives. Much of the City of Christchurch was destroyed, including Glenelg Children’s Health Camp, a facility dedicated to supporting the city’s most vulnerable children. The directors of World Potato Congress Inc (WPC) have decided to help the city and its children.
The city hosted our Congress in 2009. At that time it was a beautiful, vibrant urban centre, “The City of Gardens.” Now much of their infrastructure is destroyed and they need help to rebuild.
We are calling on the international potato community to join us in supporting those earthquake victims who don’t have the resources to help themselves. World Potato Congress has committed CAD $1,000 to initiate a support fund. We are asking partners, subscribers and other concerned people to consider contributing.
Dr Fiona Inkpen, CEO of TE PUNA WHAIORA Children’s Health Camps, welcomes our support, noting, “The funds the Potato Congress raises will go towards our Glenelg Camp … so we can bring love, laughter and security back to the lives of the children and families who rely on our services.”
The Glenelg, Children’s Health Camp has been red stickered which means that, for safety reasons, it cannot be accessed. It will require a complete rebuild and relocation. It is estimated the total cost will be NZ $6.5 million. Fortunately, insurance will cover $5 million leaving a $1.5 million shortfall.
TE PUNA WHAIORA Children’s Health Camps uses a ‘whole child approach’ in identifying and supporting the most vulnerable children between 5-12 years of age. Their service is child-centred and family focussed. According to Dr Inkpen the last twelve months have been particularly hard, “events such as the earthquakes can be extremely traumatic for these children who are already vulnerable,” she said.
The children referred are those who may be experiencing poor school achievement, high levels of hyperactivity, emotional issues, peer relationship difficulties, chronic health problems and poor social skills. The child and family may also have inadequate or insufficient protective factors to manage identified challenges, such as parenting skills, poor access to services, poor housing or lack of resources.
“We at TE PUNA WHAIORA Children’s Health Camps were elated to learn that World Potato Congress has decided to help our children,” said Dr Inkpen, “It was like feeling the life force of unknown people who deeply care about the children of this world. With such support we will rebuild, we will be stronger and we will have forged new friendships and good memories in the process.”
Your support will go a long way toward re-establishing a wonderful child-centered resource in Christchurch and will forever impact the lives of children in need.
Please take a few moments, follow the link below to view a PowerPoint presentation that reveals the degree of destruction at Glenelg and outlines the path to recovery for the camp and its children.
Kind regards,
Allan Parker,
President & CEO
To learn more and make a contribution contact:
World Potato Congress Inc
Farm Centre, Suite 101
420 University Ave. Charlottetown
Canada C1A 7Z5
Tel: 902-368-8885
Email: info@potatocongress.org
Or:
Visit the TE PUNA WHAIORA Children’s Health Camps website: www.healthcamps.org.nz
Please click here to download our Christchurch Support Powerpoint Presentation. For best results we suggest you save the presentation to your hard drive before viewing.