Thank you Choose Kids!

By Belinda Le Lievre | Posted: Tuesday December 1, 2015

We'd like thank Choose Kids,  for the Stationery Drive recently organised on campus for local Dunedin Schools. We were so impressed with the terrific response from students who donated 979 stationery items, such as pens, pencils, folders, paper and printers.  The stationery collected has been distributed to eight Dunedin Schools, including the six schools Anglican Family Care works with though the Social Workers in Schools Programme.

 Social Workers in schools is a voluntary and free programme that helps primary school-aged students build self-esteem and social skills. It aims to provide young children with the resources and tactics necessary to hThelp them overcome life’s challenges so they can be successful both socially and academically. “Some of our students are dealing with issues of grief and loss. Others are working through difficult problems at home,” says Katie Baumler who is also part of the Social Workers in Schools programme. “What amazes me the most is how resilient the children are despite what they’ve been through. Seeing the kids’ faces light up is so inspiring.”

In the past year the Social Workers in Schools programme has helped 258 students, and the results have been very positive with 85% of parents reporting improvement in their child’s behaviour.