Grants

Meet Lockie

Meet Lockie (pictured right, above). He is 13 years old and is severely autistic, intellectually impaired and has major sensory and behavioural challenges. His passion in life is swinging. It calms him, balances him and is one of the few times that he will interact with others. Lockie’s mum said that his old swing had been “swung to death”. 

Variety provided a grant so that Lockie could have a new steel framed swing which will last for years. His mum was pretty excited too: “Thank you so, so, much.  I am so excited I have just screamed the place down and then started crying.  This is the best news I’ve had in so long.  I can’t thank you enough and I can’t wait to see his face when he sees it.”

Lockie’s swing is now installed and his mum says “The gift of the swing was in one word ‘priceless’.  As I watched him get on it for the first time and laugh, squeal, giggle and just shriek with happiness, I just had to laugh with him”. 

Sistema Aotearoa

Variety provided the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s Sistema Aotearoa programme with a grant of more than $8500 to purchase a new set of woodwind instruments. Sistema Aotearoa is a social intervention programme in Otara that helps children develop skills that are vital for positive personal development. These skills go far beyond the development of musical ability.

The Variety team got the chance to see the students and tutors in action at the Otara Music and Arts Centre and were thoroughly impressed by the children’s focus and talent. All the instrument groups practiced separately then the sixty-strong orchestra came together to play beautifully.  

Sistema Aotearoa programme staff say that the programme has produced caring children who are more comfortable tackling tricky problems at school: “Emphasis is placed on developing a supportive community. Teachers and students alike are invested in both personal and community success, creating a place where children feel safe and challenged. Parents/carers working together with Sistema Aotearoa achieve a common goal - that is a more positive, aspirational future for their children.”