Foster kids surprised with reno

A group of students have sacrificed their holidays to make life a little better for children in foster care, all while remembering a close friend.

Kristin School prefects spent five days renovating eight rooms at Dingwall Trust, a south Auckland facility which provides outof-home care for young people.

The trust’s director Tracie Shipton said the students had transformed the six bedrooms, games room and lounge.

Deputy head girl Emily Maclean had the idea to renovate part of the facility, as part of the school’s annual prefect project, after seeing others renovate another wing of the trust.

‘‘I thought it was going to be tidied up but what they’ve done, it’s entirely changed it,’’ Shipton said. ‘‘It’s like a palace.’’

In preparation for the renovation, which included painting, new furniture and more, the students met some of the children in foster care to try and personalise the rooms. Head girl Houston Murray said she expected the children to be in shock, but excited, when they saw the renovation.

Head boy Rory Sutherland said the children were only expecting new paint.

‘‘I really liked it [the project], because we know these kids come from really difficult and challenging backgrounds. Making a warm environment to come to, we like to think it will make a difference.’’

The children living in the renovated area had been away on a holiday and returned to the surprise on July 18.

The Kristin School students also donned shirts in memory of a late student and fellow prefect, Peter Troake, who died in June after a battle with cancer. Troake would have been involved in the renovations and the group wanted to do a good job in his memory.

Shipton said it was also nice to have the perspective of young people shown in the rooms.

‘‘We consider Dingwall to be a community of care. We encourage community life with our young people. To have a school do this, reinforces that and sets the bar for what you can do for community.’’

With the leftover funds the students also purchased a new trampoline, basketball hoop and a few computers.

Prefect Helena Wiseman said they were simply enacting the ethos of Dingwall Trust.

‘‘We were showing them that they deserve for things to be nice for things to be colourful and for them to have nice furniture.’’

The prefects got to know some of the children and their interests including this young boy’s love for Star Wars.