Donating $25 dollars for each of her five grandchildren, Ngā Puāwai o Tāmaki |Auckland Kindergarten Association Life Member Robin Houlker launches the Association’s new Donate programme.

“We’ve had three generations involved in kindergarten – me, my two daughters and my five grandchildren. By donating, I want to ensure that affordable, high quality early childhood education is available to all children in the future. I am donating for Ponsonby Kindergarten’s 100th Birthday Celebration on 26 February, 3.30pm.”

“This milestone represents many generations of children and their families. There is a wonderful continuity of qualifed teachers, which began as a fantastic ‘herstory’ of women fighting to ensure early childhood teaching was recognised as a profession and for women to be recompensed for their skills. Of course, now the profession includes all people. Kindergarten also represents 100 years of stability and accessibility in the neighbourhood – where some providers have come and gone, we have been consistently present for children, parents and whānau.”

Mrs Houlker has dedicated a good part of her life to Auckland Kindergarten Association as a teacher, lecturer, Board Chair and now Life Member.

“We are partly funded by government, with support on some sites from Auckland Council. Costs are going up but we continue to provide quality education. However, we are struggling to sustain ourselves and keep our kindergartens open for all children. We welcome donations and bequests to keep us going for generations to come.”

The Association was established in 1908 with the support of Mayor Sir John Logan Campbell. It is a not-for-profit charitable organisation that educates up to 10,000 children in 108 kindergartens and four centres from Mangawhai in the north, Papatoetoe in the south, Waitākere in the west and Waiheke and Maraetai in the east.

Read Robyn’s speech delivered at Ponsonby Kindergarten’s 100th milestone event.