We order our first lot of pyjamas for our Flaxmere Jarmy Army, this time due to the generosity of a donation made by the Diocese of Palmerston North Catholic Charities Allocations Group.
We negotiate with The Warehouse that for every purchase of pyjamas The Warehouse will donate a set of thermals. This is our second year with the Jarmy Army. We learnt many things from this project last year, including thermals were also much appreciated by families - warm clothing that could be worn at night and during the day.
My friend Bev Te Huia emails me, "Four kiddies arrived in their jarmys for kura that day ... So we changed them into their new jarmys ... some kiddies said that this was the first pair of jarmys they have ever received and others walked around with them all day in their arms like it was Christmas."
I attend an Akina Foundation social enterprise workshop facilitated by David Clearwater. My interest stems from David's attendance and input with our Takitimu Ora Whanau Ora Collective community workshops. The aim of our whanau ora collective is to improve young people's engagement in employment, education or training. I learn social enterprise is to develop a business model which in turn impacts on community - or in particular a social, cultural or environmental purpose. Enterprise - the engine that drives social outcomes. kina - a call for bold action - helping others to identify pathways through their challenges. Akina's history begins in 2008, whereby the Todd and Tindall Foundations established the Hikurangi Foundation to support practical action on climate change and the environment. A whole range of grass roots and community led innovation was funded.
Hikurangi's mission focused on five impact areas - transport; housing; consumption and waste; land and ecosystems; energy. Incubation models were developed that supported a range of social enterprises and social entrepreneurs throughout the country. In early 2014, the Government announced funding to expand our incubation and development services for high potential social enterprise across New Zealand. Akina Foundation offers support to grow businesses and social impact. A local example of a social enterprise venture assisted by Akina is Patu Aotearoa, a national franchise model for a group exercise programme designed specifically for Mori and Pasifika. Levi Armstrong, champion of our whanau ora collective, saw an opportunity to set up this programme, attracting whanau through physical activity.
