Access is not the same as equity.
One teen is neurodiverse and has siblings with serious illness; a solo mum is doing an amazing job working full time and is dedicated to her whānau. The teen said they wanted to grow up and be strong to help their mum. So we got them a gym pass. They’re loving it.
One teen has been in trouble with the law because she got into a scuffle, defending her family’s honour. She’s a polite and respectful kid with so much potential, and her ‘normal’ just looks a bit different to many more privileged kids. She has a career plan, and we helped her get her gym pass because she needs to stay motivated, fit and healthy.
One teen has been fostered from birth, and we’ve had the privilege of knowing them for three years. They’ve had some big troubles at school and on the streets, but they’ve really thrived under mentorship and holistic support for the whānau, and recently they got awarded great mahi certificates from school. Their focus is on ‘being someone’, with mana, and staying active in several sporting codes is a way to keep busy and strong. We’ve provided sports passes, gear, club fees and transport over the years.
All Kiwi kids get the chance to do sport – that’s equity, maybe? – But if you don’t have access…?
Think about it.
