Meet the Taranaki teenager who distributes clothing packages to women in need | Popgen Tech

A 13-year-old Taranaki girl is helping women in need through homemade and recycled garment bags.

When Ava Gadum was asked to do a project through the Green School to help a social service in the community with an environmental benefit, she decided to make care bags for the Women’s Shelter.

Since her idea, Ava has prepared 50 care kits filled with used clothes, accessories, and brand new socks and underwear, along with her handmade affirmation cards, wrapped in a sewn lace curtain, to distribute to those in need.

“I wanted to make it eco-friendly because cheap clothes are usually unsustainable and it’s really hard to buy quality cheap clothes, so I thought second-hand would be a great option for that.”

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Each of the bags was color-coded for size and then given to the shelter before being distributed by social workers.

Ava said that in order to bring her idea to life, she had to learn how to make business and community connections, organize meetings, apply for grants and calculate costs.

But she didn’t do it alone: ​​the Green School community helped donate clothes, and some even helped with expenses.

“I had a meeting with my principal and she accepted the grant, but there were also two families there who heard about our meeting and offered to pay half of what the principal is paying.

“It was great to feel so much support from the community.”

Women’s Refuge Communications Manager Shona Smith said the help of someone so young is inspiring and will help many women in need.

“When Ava approached me, I said ‘yes, fantastic’.

“The packages will definitely go to shelters, but at this time of year there may be other women in the community who need help.”