Helping others take control of their dreams
I have never been very wealthy, but I am very happy to help change the inequality faced by our lower socioeconomic families and give children a better chance.
After more than 40 years of teaching children in low-decile schools across Aotearoa, and being inspired by Alan Duff’s novel, A Conversation with My Country, Marie Kaire decided she wanted to take action and create meaningful change for one of our Dreamers at I Have A Dream (IHAD) through regular donations.
Marie’s decades in the classroom were filled with joy, but they also highlighted the stark inequalities faced by children from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
“Children have no say in when they are born or how they’re raised,” Marie says. “We need to do more for our vulnerable children who often don’t have a voice or a choice in their future.”
Marie is passionate about giving tamariki (children) the tools to create a better future for themselves.
Her upbringing has deeply influenced her commitment. “My mother was an unwed mother in the 1940s. She worked 8 hours a day in the tobacco fields of Riwaka, Nelson, and cared for her grandfather. She read to me every day from the age of two, and by the time I went to school, I could already read. She never read a book for herself, but all she wanted was for me to have a better education than she had.”
Marie recalls a time when teachers could focus primarily on teaching. “Back then, teachers didn’t have to spend so much time managing social issues. But today, teachers spend up to 80% of their time dealing with these matters.”
During her time working on the east coast of Northland, she saw first-hand the impact of community trust through two local social workers who knew the families personally, so were able to offer practical, effective support, which Marie said was far more efficient than government-funded agencies. “They were more effective than million-dollar-funded programmes because they lived in the community and had the trust of the people.”
Marie sees a direct parallel in the work of I Have A Dream, where Navigators build lasting, trusting relationships with whānau to create long-term change.
“I’ve heard incredible stories from grandparents of tamariki who’ve benefited from the programme,” she shares. “One grandparent told me how his granddaughter wanted to become a chef, so IHAD arranged for a chef to meet her. After learning about the demanding hours, she decided nursing was a better fit, and IHAD organised for someone from the Red Cross to talk to her.”
As a former teacher, Marie is impressed by how IHAD helps tamariki explore and shape their futures, offering a level of service that really makes a difference.
Charleen Ngata and Marie Kaire
Since becoming involved with IHAD, Marie has been a passionate advocate for its model. She regularly writes letters to the editor of the NZ Herald, shares the work of IHAD with MPs, and speaks to community groups – including the te reo Māori class she runs, where students range from 55 to 95 years old.
“It’s never too late to learn,” she says, noting that she’s still working on her fluency in te reo.
Last year, at the age of 80, Marie was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through chemotherapy at the Jim Carney Cancer Treatment Centre in Whangārei, which she said also provides life changing support to the community and relies on donations to operate. She is currently receiving radiation treatment, but is determined to reach 90, and has already defied the odds as the first woman in her family to live past 80.
Since 2019, Marie has donated $85 per month to IHAD, and has generously added extra when she can, hoping it would help another child thrive.
She encourages others to join her in supporting IHAD, as she believes this is how we can ensure a brighter future for our tamariki.
“You don’t have to have a lot to give,” Marie says. “A little bit each month can make a huge difference. Every step counts in a long journey.”
Join Marie in making a difference
If you’d like to make a regular donation or a one-off contribution to I Have A Dream, you can do so here.
Some organisations offer payroll giving, a simple way to donate regularly. Plus, you’ll receive immediate tax credits. To learn more about this, contact our Funding and Partnership Manager, Jodie Hannam.
Every donation, however small, helps I Have a Dream inspire dreams and enable futures for tamariki and rangatahi (youth) through education and opportunities. We appreciate each and everyone of our our donors, supporter and volunteers, without whom our work would not be possible.
