‘It’s not a job, an opportunity’
Loloma Home was set up by two women in 2009, as a shelter for women who have escaped terrible situations with their children. Since then, 105 mums and 215 children have spent time at the shelter and currently it houses nine mums and 17 children. In September, the foundation successfully purchased 11.4 acres of land with a property and gifted it to Loloma, to house orphans.
“This is exciting because it’s something they can call their own and make it a true home for the mums and their children,” says Paul Ross, founder of Pacific Kids.
In Samoa, the foundation has started to work closely with Lina Chang, president of Victim Support in Samoa. Victim Support is currently operating three shelters:
A nursery shelter for babies, A disabilities shelter for children with disabilities and pregnant survivors of sexual abuse, and the Children’s House of Hope for children ages 3 years upwards. Similar projects in Tonga are on the anvil. Offering these services, to Ross, “is not a job, but an opportunity.”
He was prompted on this journey by his own life experiences in 2011. Over the years he has helped kids in Fiji live a childhood they would remember with much love and fondness. Ross has also helped rehabilitate some of the kids, who are now adults, in mainstreams careers. One of girls, who grew up at the shelter, now works at the Fijian international airport as a ground staff.
Ross plans to take up this role of rehabilitation more actively in the coming months through a work experience programme in both Fiji and Samoa. “It keeps them safe and gives them an opportunity to live a normal life,” says Ross.
For now, he is busy preparing for his project: Kilimanjaro trek, which is 19,341 ft high, to raise money for the foundation. On completion of his 121 km long trek, sponsors can pay by Paypal, credit card or the Foundation’s accounts. “Every cent goes back to the kids,” promises Ross.
The funds from this project will go towards building a more permanent roof for the Loloma Home. “Every time it rains, we need to place buckets in several places around the home to collect the rain water leaking through the roof. That is not hygienic for those residing in the house,” explains Ross.
Ross has been getting trained to go hiking at Mr Kilimanjaro, which he has “climbed once before, in 2012”. So far $13,500 has been collected for the project, whereby sponsors have donated per km of the trek.
From time to time, Ross has taken his staff at Power Marketing, the telesales outfit that’s his real breadwinner, to Fiji to volunteer at the home. He pays for their travel and accommodation, making it convenient to contribute their time and effort to make a difference in the lives of these kids. Ross feels, “The greatest gift is someone’s time, because a person’s time comes with commitment.”
Ross begins his 6-day trek on Sunday Nov 16 and expects to summit at around 5pm NZT on the 20th. Ross will arrive back into New Zealand on the 26th and then catches the first flight out on the 28th to Fiji to host a Christmas party for the kids and the mums at Loloma. “It will begin with breakfast at McDonald’s (yes, I know it’s not healthy, but…!), followed by fun at the water park, and barbecue lunch at Sofitel. In the afternoon, we have arranged for water sports for kids while the mums get pampered with manicures, pedicures and facials. The day ends with dinner at the port,” promises Ross.
Very promising, indeed. Prior to Kilimanjaro, Ross has climbed Machu Picchu in Peru, Patagonia in Chile, and Annapurna Circle in Nepal. He plans to trek Mount Everest base camp in February to raise money for Samoan victim support group.
If you are looking forward to Ross’s trek to Mount Kilimanjaro on Sunday, join his cause on www.facebook.com/pacifickids . To “make a difference” to the lives of these kids, you can support his cause by making a donation through www.pacifickids.co.nz
Loloma Home was set up by two women in 2009, as a shelter for women who have escaped terrible situations with their children. Since then, 105 mums and 215 children have spent time at the shelter and currently it houses nine mums and 17 children. In September, the foundation successfully purchased...
Loloma Home was set up by two women in 2009, as a shelter for women who have escaped terrible situations with their children. Since then, 105 mums and 215 children have spent time at the shelter and currently it houses nine mums and 17 children. In September, the foundation successfully purchased 11.4 acres of land with a property and gifted it to Loloma, to house orphans.
“This is exciting because it’s something they can call their own and make it a true home for the mums and their children,” says Paul Ross, founder of Pacific Kids.
In Samoa, the foundation has started to work closely with Lina Chang, president of Victim Support in Samoa. Victim Support is currently operating three shelters:
A nursery shelter for babies, A disabilities shelter for children with disabilities and pregnant survivors of sexual abuse, and the Children’s House of Hope for children ages 3 years upwards. Similar projects in Tonga are on the anvil. Offering these services, to Ross, “is not a job, but an opportunity.”
He was prompted on this journey by his own life experiences in 2011. Over the years he has helped kids in Fiji live a childhood they would remember with much love and fondness. Ross has also helped rehabilitate some of the kids, who are now adults, in mainstreams careers. One of girls, who grew up at the shelter, now works at the Fijian international airport as a ground staff.
Ross plans to take up this role of rehabilitation more actively in the coming months through a work experience programme in both Fiji and Samoa. “It keeps them safe and gives them an opportunity to live a normal life,” says Ross.
For now, he is busy preparing for his project: Kilimanjaro trek, which is 19,341 ft high, to raise money for the foundation. On completion of his 121 km long trek, sponsors can pay by Paypal, credit card or the Foundation’s accounts. “Every cent goes back to the kids,” promises Ross.
The funds from this project will go towards building a more permanent roof for the Loloma Home. “Every time it rains, we need to place buckets in several places around the home to collect the rain water leaking through the roof. That is not hygienic for those residing in the house,” explains Ross.
Ross has been getting trained to go hiking at Mr Kilimanjaro, which he has “climbed once before, in 2012”. So far $13,500 has been collected for the project, whereby sponsors have donated per km of the trek.
From time to time, Ross has taken his staff at Power Marketing, the telesales outfit that’s his real breadwinner, to Fiji to volunteer at the home. He pays for their travel and accommodation, making it convenient to contribute their time and effort to make a difference in the lives of these kids. Ross feels, “The greatest gift is someone’s time, because a person’s time comes with commitment.”
Ross begins his 6-day trek on Sunday Nov 16 and expects to summit at around 5pm NZT on the 20th. Ross will arrive back into New Zealand on the 26th and then catches the first flight out on the 28th to Fiji to host a Christmas party for the kids and the mums at Loloma. “It will begin with breakfast at McDonald’s (yes, I know it’s not healthy, but…!), followed by fun at the water park, and barbecue lunch at Sofitel. In the afternoon, we have arranged for water sports for kids while the mums get pampered with manicures, pedicures and facials. The day ends with dinner at the port,” promises Ross.
Very promising, indeed. Prior to Kilimanjaro, Ross has climbed Machu Picchu in Peru, Patagonia in Chile, and Annapurna Circle in Nepal. He plans to trek Mount Everest base camp in February to raise money for Samoan victim support group.
If you are looking forward to Ross’s trek to Mount Kilimanjaro on Sunday, join his cause on www.facebook.com/pacifickids . To “make a difference” to the lives of these kids, you can support his cause by making a donation through www.pacifickids.co.nz
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