19 Jun 2019

Social enterprise funds birthday parties for disadvantaged kids

From First Up, 5:58 am on 19 June 2019

Birthday's should be a time for cake, games and celebration - but for children living in poverty that's not always the case. It's why a trio of teenagers from Wellington have launched a social enterprise called Boomerang, that provides disadvantaged kids with birthday parties. The three girls, who are in their final year at Wā Ora Montessori in Lower Hutt, say they want all kids to have their special day regardless of their family finances. Each party costs 500-dollars to put on - and that money's raised through donations, the sale of tea towels, wrist bands and a buy-a-birthday scheme - where businesses and community groups can buy a birthday party. Our Youth Affairs reporter Katie Doyle caught up with Grace Nickel, who's the chief executive of Boomerang.