Previous Recipients
Summer 07/08 Recipients
We are delighted to announce the following women and organisations as the first recipients of support from the Max Foundation for New Zealand Women Trust.
We think you’ll agree they absolutely embody the spirit of the Foundation and we are thrilled to be able to provide them support to enable them to achieve their goals.
Congratulations!
Look Good Feel Better
Look Good Feel Better runs free cosmetic/skincare workshops for cancer patients throughout New Zealand. The workshops are specifically designed to improve the quality of life of cancer patients by helping restore lost confidence and self esteem to those women who are dealing with the appearance related side effects of cancer treatment. The workshops are run in 21 regions of New Zealand. Last year, more than 164 workshops were held throughout the country with more than 2400 women receiving the benefits of the programme. The aim is to help 3000 this year.
Many women trying to cope with the trauma of cancer feel isolated and vulnerable and the workshops make a huge difference. Not only is it an opportunity to connect with other women experiencing the same thing, but being in control of your appearance makes a real difference to self esteem and confidence. This in turn brings about a more positive attitude and approach to any on-going treatment.
Doctors have said that feeling good about yourself literally releases certain chemicals into the bloodstream, which boosts the immune system and helps with healing. For families of patients, the workshops are also a blessing. To watch a loved one trying to cope with illness is very hard and the injection of confidence and positivity rubs off on everyone else around.
Look Good Feel Better is a registered charity and relies on self funding and community donations to help keep the programme operational in New Zealand
The Max Foundation for New Zealand Women is delighted to pledge $5k of support to Look Good Feel Better which will fund promotional material to raise awareness of the programme.
Tanya Black
Two years ago Tanya Black (aged 34 years) was running her own wine bar in High St in the central city and living in a converted warehouse nearby. One night she slipped and fell down 18 steps, and broke her spine. As a paraplegic permanently confined to a wheelchair her life was changed forever.
While many would let these circumstances overcome them, with determination and courage Tanya has in a short space of time begun to lead an independent life once again. She is now retraining, and working part time as a researcher and reporter with Attitude, a TV series representing issues and interests of Kiwis with disabilities.
The great irony in Tanya’s story is that as a child she dreamed of being a reporter. She never thought it would happen. And despite tragic circumstances she’s achieving her dream.
In March, after receiving the support from the Max Foundation for New Zealand Women, Tanya completed the ‘Introduction to Documentary Film Making’ course at the Australian Film and TV School in Sydney. She returned with a wealth of knowledge and ideas that have been invaluable to her role at Attitude TV.
Since returning from her course she has been on assignment all over New Zealand and to the UK, filming fascinating stories of people living with disability.
Tanya has faced a lot of challenges since her injuries two years ago, including embarking on a totally new career; but with her sheer determination and the help of others, Tanya is now able to fulfill her dream.
The Max Foundation for New Zealand Women were delighted in being able to support Tanya to the value of $5k which covered the cost of her course and related costs and also include a $1,500 Max credit for her professional/personal wardrobe. We would also like to acknowledge Robyn Scott-Vincent and the fantastic team at Attitude for their continued support of Tanya and others who are living and working with disability.
Taonga Education Centre
Having a baby is a life-changing event – no matter how old you are. But as a teenager often you are not equipped to fully appreciate the challenges and experiences that lie ahead. Furthermore your own personal development and education often falls away by default as the responsibility of parenthood becomes overwhelming.
In 2002 the Taonga Education Centre Teenage Parent Unit was created to enable young teenage mothers the opportunity to ensure their own lives and personal development continue to evolve without comprising that of their children’s.
Supporting around 30 women at any given time, Taonga Education Centre offers these fortunate young women an opportunity not only to continue with academic study but also teaches an array of life skills including outdoor pursuits, driving lessons, cooking as well as early childhood education. This is in conjunction with crèche facilities so children can be close at hand.
One of the wonderful opportunities given to the young women at the Taonga is the chance to complete the Young New Zealanders Challenge of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (Te Wero Taiohi o Aotearoa). This international programme is made available in New Zealand through the Challenge NewZ non-profit organisation. While ultimately rewarding, the programme demands commitment from its participants as it mentors them through their Bronze, Silver and Gold levels where they complete challenges in an array of skill based activity ranging from physical pursuits to community service.
Max has been involved with the project for four years, and watched it go from strength to strength, knowing that these young women have been given the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities that they had never considered possible.
“The result of this support has enabled Taonga to produce some extraordinary young women, challenging and changing the perceptions of all who come into contact with the Young New Zealanders Challenge participants as regards to the future prospects of teenage mothers.” –Challenge New Zealand.
The Max Foundation for New Zealand Women is proud to continue to support the Taonga Education Centre Teenage Parent Unit in South Auckland through 2008, with $10k to enable the Young New Zealanders Challenge to be offered. Congratulations to all those young women who choose to meet the Challenge.
Sophie Prebble
Our final recipient is very special to Max as she is a Max staff member. We see it as vital that our staff are not only involved in the Foundation but have an opportunity themselves to apply for funding.
Sophie is one of only ten people to be recently accepted for the Masters of Creative Writing in Scriptwriting at Victoria University.
She has set her sights on this course right from high school. She recently completed a Bachelor of Arts Majoring in Theatre and English at Victoria University and then did an exchange semester at the University of California in Berkeley. Sophie has spent the summer working at Max and saving for her study, and will continue working there part time while she studies.
Since receiving support from the Max Foundation, Sophie has embarked on her Masters of Creative Writing. She travelled up to Auckland were she spent a week in the writers room at Shortland Street studios, as work experience for her masters.
Sophie has a while still to go in completing her Masters, but we wish her every bit of success!
We were delighted to be able to reward Sophie's efforts and support her in her quest to fulfil her dream. The Max Foundation for New Zealand Women donated $4,723 to cover Sophie’s Master course fees.