If you were walking the Hãtea Loop recently, you may have noticed some tutu-wearing girls carrying placards and walking with enthusiastic determination. The girls were a group from the local Girls’ Brigade, and the walk had a plan and a purpose – to make money to donate to their chosen organizations, Epilepsy NZ and Motor Neurone Disease NZ (MND).
The secondary school-aged girls meet once a week after school, and this year’s theme for the Brigade has been “Generosity”. With this in mind, Girls’ Brigade leader Sue Cammell asked the girls how they would like to show generosity towards their community and it was decided to make money to donate to an organisation of their choice. Money-making methods were whittled down to two – sewing heat packs to sell, and being sponsored to walk the Hãtea Loop.
Choosing an organisation to donate to was a democratic affair. Each girl researched and offered an idea – these varied from the I am Hope Foundation to adopting a donkey in Syria! However, after a vote and careful counting, Epilepsy NZ and MND NZ were tied for first. This is where democracy really kicked in and it was decided to equally split the proceeds between the two organisations.
Sewing the heat packs was a challenge for some of the girls who were not confident using sewing machines, let alone sewing in a straight line. However, twenty were completed and sold. This was a great start towards the generosity goal, but it has been the success of the sponsored Hãtea Loop walk that astounded Sue Cammell. Finding sponsors and then following them up after the walk takes time and persistence, but the girls really came to the fore. Over both fundraisers, the 12 teens made an incredible total of $1027.70 to gift to each of their chosen organisations.
Sue says, “Our girls have learnt and shown that with a bit of creative thinking and determination, they can set and achieve big goals”.
So, with the kindness of sponsors and the heart-felt work of the girls, it seems that real generosity has won the day.
Written by Claire McIvor, 2nd Whangarei Girls’ Brigade.
