Help Leontae rebuild confidence

Leontae Hodge with her parents Niki Te Huia (left) and Taiawhio Hodge and her brother Taiawhio Tihi-Hodge. Photo / David Kerr

For $35 a month you could help 11-year-old Leontae Hodge rebuild her confidence.

A man attacked the Hamilton East schoolgirl from behind and put a bag over her head while she was walking home after school last month.

A passing motorist stopped and the man ran away. Now Leontae's parents, Taiawhio Hodge and Niki Te Huia, want to enrol her in a self-defence course, but can't afford it.

They are among 300 needy Kiwi families on a waiting list for a "charity-begins-at-home" child sponsorship scheme run by the children's charity Variety, where sponsors pay $35 a month to meet a child's specific needs.

For Leontae, it would pay for swimming lessons as well as a self-defence class.

"It will be just for Leontae, to boost her confidence," Ms Te Huia said.

The family live on a Jobseeker Support benefit of $350 a week plus $157 in family tax credits - a total of $507. They pay $197 a week in debt repayments. Out of the remaining $310 a week they pay $120 to rent their state house and $40 for power, leaving just $150 for food, medicines for Leontae's eczema and asthma and all other living costs for the family, including Leontae's brother, Taiawhio, 8.

The couple said they took responsibility for their debts. They had no electricity for 18 months after they got behind with the power bill. They sometimes went to relatives for showers and meals, but mostly walked 45 minutes into town for free evening meals put on by the Hamilton Homeless Trust.

They don't have a car.

Ms Te Huia, 46, has completed a hospitality course and is looking for work. Mr Hodge, 40, has had labouring jobs and has enrolled in a literacy course so he can get his driver's licence.

"I want to work. It's just finding a job and people giving me a chance."

Sponsor scheme

• Family with child aged 5-15 needs help with after-tax income below $756 a week with one child, $808 pw with two children or $834 pw with three or more children.

• Sponsor pays Variety a minimum of $35 a month.

• Variety takes 20 per cent for administration and pays the rest direct to suppliers for the child's needs.

• May be used for medical or school costs, stationery, clothing, shoes, bedding, sports fees, music/dance/swimming lessons

Details: variety.org.nz