Personal growth and development through sports.
Organisation: The WaterBoy (Te Tamawai Trust)
Where: Waikato
Funding: $20,000
Purpose: To fund fees, equipment and uniforms for girls facing financial and other barriers
The WaterBoy used support from the Physical Activity and Wellbeing Fund to provide sponsorships to young women facing a range of barriers in the Waikato region to cover fees, clothing, and equipment needed to participate in sports.
The WaterBoy focus on ensuring as many young people can participate in sport as a personal development opportunity to support their growth and development. They enable access to a range of activities like rugby, netball, and boxing.
Young women heading out for a surf, supported to participate by the WaterBoy’s surf club programme.
One rangatahi that was a recipient of a WaterBoy sponsorship says of the program:
“Our mum has five talented sporting tamariki. As a single parent she works extra hard to make sure we can do the activities that we enjoy, however we see the struggle she goes through… All of us have appreciated the support WaterBoy and our sponsor has given us, as it reminds us of the village backing us so use every opportunity, make the village proud, and inspire others along the way.”