How you can help us help families in need
Life is tough right now for the whānau we work with. Rising living costs and unemployment means that taking care of the basics can be a real struggle. The result is that many families are missing out on attending our life-changing counselling services and parenting programmes, which is compromising their ability to transform family life.
Pearl, who leads our parenting programmes, has noticed that families are struggling more than ever this winter. “It’s hard to get the help you need to strengthen your whānau when you’re worried about putting food on the table,” she says. “In some cases, parents simply can’t afford babysitters, fuel or the bus fare to get to our programmes, which means they’re missing out on accessing our services.”
“When parents come to Iosis, it’s important that they’re ready to learn so that they can get the most out of their time with us. This means, being warm and fed, and feeling that they’re in a safe space – not worried about the kids, the bills, or how they’re going to get home.”
Yet accessing our services and programmes is so important for vulnerable families in South Auckland. From our ‘Building Awesome Whānau’ programme right through to our counselling and mentoring services, these free services teach whānau how to overcome past trauma, resolve conflicts peacefully, reduce family violence, develop supportive relationships, and raise happy, confident children.
Iosis CEO, Tracey, is very concerned that struggling families can’t access the help they need right now. “Iosis has developed a unique approach that combines experiential learning programmes, practical support and coaching that strengthens family life and leads to lasting change,” she says. “We know these services make a difference – and they’re free – yet if families can’t make it because they can’t afford to get here, we can’t achieve the impact we need to.”
A little help can go a long way
For that reason, we’re reaching out to our wider community to help families with ‘the basics’ so they can afford to attend our programmes and services. Petrol vouchers, food vouchers, and even activities to keep children occupied while their parents come to our programmes, will all help us transform the lives of South Auckland parents and their tamariki.
Parents like Mana, a mother of four who has worked with one of our social workers for a few years now – and completed several of our programmes. In doing so, she has learnt to break the cycle of abuse, and become a calmer, better parent to her children.
“The Family Resilience programme was awesome!” she enthuses. “Like so many of the participants, I had never experienced anything like that before. Some of the things we shared, I had never shared with anyone.” Mana says the programme made her realise the effect of her own upbringing and how it has shaped her. “I had felt really negative for most of my life, but my work with Iosis has changed that,” she says. “It made me see my strengths and the positive things about myself. That has been really empowering.”
Mana is just one of the hundreds of parents, individuals and families we’ve helped in the past few years. Please support us so that no other families miss out on our transformative programmes and services.
We’re calling on our Iosis community to help whānau in need this winter, so they can continue to attend our vital programmes and services. We’re looking for:
Help with childcare – A $35 donation can help provide a children’s care pack, including activity book, colouring pencils, and a snack, so parents can fully focus on learning.
Help with transport – A $45 donation can help purchase a petrol voucher to assist with transport.
Help with nourishing families – A $60 donation can help purchase a supermarket voucher to help nourish families.
Help with a general donation to contribute to all of the above.