Girls build bikes for foster kids
A group of foster kids are marking an important milestone thanks to a high school initiative that involved students rolling up their sleeves and putting in some elbow grease to build bikes.
More than 20 Auckland foster children have shiny new bicycles with the help of the On Your Bike initiative from Diocesan School for Girls.
Year 11 students learnt valuable skills including perseverance, ingenuity and leadership during two workshops where they built 24 bikes for Auckland foster children aged from 3 to 11.
Diocesan leadership programme director Jo Robertson says On Your Bike is one of the specialised leadership events the school runs to give students authentic learning opportunities for leadership.
Student leader Hannah Jones says most pupils had no idea how to set up a bike.
‘‘We had to really work together to figure out the instructions and get different people working on different things to make the most of their individual abilities, despite our overall lack of experience.’’
Staff from Bike Barn pitched in to ensure the bikes were built properly and safely.
The company also supplied the bike components and helmets at less than half retail price.
Fostering Kids spokeswoman Andeana Pilalis says it is great to see young people giving to other young people in a humble way.
‘‘Getting a new bike is a milestone in any child’s life. These young women have given each of these kids one of the best memories that they will take right through to adulthood.’’
Fostering Kids is a nationwide charity which provides training and support for some of the 6000 families throughout New Zealand who foster children.