Brainwave Trust
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Brainwave is an organisation that educates the community about the latest research in neuroscience. We now know that a child's experiences from conception to three largely determine how their brain develops, and whether they will become capable, contributing, well adjusted tenagers and adults. Brainwave Trust's mission is to deliver information about the vital importance of brain development during these crucial early years. Scientific research tells us that experiences during this time have an undeniable impact on the development of the brain and the type of adult we will become.
Our strength lies in our ability to translate complex research from a wide range of disciplines into something that is practical, useful, and easy to understand. One of our focuses this year has been to get our key messages to teenagers; early intervention at its best! New Zealand’s public education includes no content or training on child development, care giving or the basics of brain development, yet teenagers hugely benefit from knowing that:
- The way you speak, handle and respond to a baby shapes the baby’s brain
- Prolonged early stress disrupts brain architecture and increases the risk of emotional and behavioural disorders
- Nurturing and responsiveness in the early years builds a strong foundation for learning, behaviour and relationships
Brain development continues at different rates in different areas throughout life and there is a huge surge of activity during adolescence. Yet a number of boys and girls are on the brink of becoming parents themselves. Our work in Teen Parent Units and other Teenage Centres led us to focus on delivering the Brainwave Trust message, at an age appropriate level, to intermediate and high school students. We have completed a pilot project at De La Salle College and are about to deliver the programme to the remaining 36 classes. The results gauged from the pre programme and a post programme evaluations are outstanding. This from a Year 7 student….
“I realy loved the programme and I’m going tell my sister in because she recently had a 2 month old baby and im going to help her look after her baby because i’ve learnt lots about the baby first 3 years thank you Miss Nelson.”
Our prevention and early intervention strategy sets us apart from many other child based organisations and may diminish the need for significant community resources to be spent at the bottom of the cliff on child welfare and longer term on adult welfare and judiciary costs for the problem areas of our society.
Winning a donation from Sovereign will help us achieve:
Running costs of the organisation. We have some success in obtaining funding for specific projects, but without the operational costs of the organisation being met, no amount of specific project funding will sustain us and allow for growth and community reach expansion.
Our details:
| Region: | Hawke's Bay/East Coast, Waikato/Bay of Plenty/Rotorua, Manawatu/Wanganui/Kapiti, Northland, Taranaki, Wellington, Auckland, Central Auckland, South Auckland, North Auckland, West Auckland, East Auckland, Canterbury/South Canterbury, Southland, West Coast, Nelson/Marlborough |
| Category: | Children's learning related disorders, Early childhood support and child shelter assistance, Parental advice and support, Teenage advice & support |
| Contact Person: | Kim van Duiven (Executive Director) |
| Address: | 3-39 Hawera Rd Kohimarama Auckland 1071 |
| Telephone: | (09) 521 5044 |
| Email: | kim@brainwave.org.nz |
| Website: | www.brainwave.org.nz |
| No. helped nationally: | 50,000+ |
| No. helped per project: | 50,000+ |
| Existing sponsors or funders: | We have received funding from the following groups for specific projects; SPARC/Active Movement ASB Community Trust Auckland Airport Community Trust Fletcher Trust NZ Lotteries Grant COGS Lion Foundation United Way NZ NZ Beef and Lamb Tindall Foundation grant Zonta J R McKenzie |
