Toy Library Howick and Pakuranga Incorporated were one of 20 recipients to obtain funding from the second round of Mazda Foundation 2021 grants.
The Mazda Foundation is a charity that has given back over $4 million to local communities such as the Toy Library.
The Library received a grant of $1,838 towards purchasing a range of diverse and multicultural activities for the community.
This included Te Reo Maori based games, Chinese and sign language blocks, and puzzles to ensure the toys available accurately represent New Zealand’s diversity.
Shelley Clews, co-chair and grants officer for the east Auckland based library, says the organisation has been operated by a committee of volunteers since 1995.
“Our volunteers work hard to keep the Toy Library running,” she says. “The generosity of grants such as the Mazda Foundation means that we can afford to add these exciting cultural toys for our members.”
“Having access to diverse multicultural toys from a young age promotes awareness of other cultures and ethnicities and ensures that our kids know society is not one shade. It reduces the chances of children being singled out of social groups based on the way they look or where they come from. Kids always learn best through play”.
