Donation helps cultivate garden vision

Rokowati Arei and Manu Joyce hope to enhance their community garden in Mangere. Photo / Greg Bowker

Auckland Airport is giving away $120,000 to NZ charities as part of its 12 days of Christmas initiative this year. The Herald is profiling each of the winning charities.

Barnardos has always led the charge in putting children first.

The Garden Project is their newest initiative to promote gardening among South Auckland children and families.

The project has been made possible by Auckland Airport's 12 days of Christmas $10,000 grant.

The project will operate from the four early learning centres in Clendon, Mangere, Otara and Manurewa. The centres are well placed as hubs of the local community. Families can visit the centres and join classes run by experts to learn gardening skills and get advice on growing fruit and vegetables. Families can then take the seeds of knowledge (and actual seeds) back home.

"The gardens don't have to be permanent," said Manu Joyce, Auckland service manager for child and family services. As many Barnardos' families move frequently, the gardens will be portable and accessible.

Barnardos will work with families to find objects such as tyres or recycling bins that can be turned into portable gardens.

Lesley Brown, service manager at Mangere's early learning centre, is proud of their "amazing garden".

It's been going for as long as she can remember. She is "really very excited" about the new project, and its role for the centre. "Barnardos has these strong whanau roots, it's a very community based organisation."

Barnardos is also running a Christmas fundraising campaign where donations can be made. Click here to donate.<