Help the Project Employ team fill their Christmas stocking !

Project Employ has hung up its first annual “Good Stocking”.

It’s a place to put your money, instead of buying that box of chocolates or pair of socks you only guess someone might like.

On the one hand, you get that feel-good boost. Academic research shows gifts of kindness are extremely good for your mental health.

On the other hand, young adults with learning disabilities like Lily-Mae and Quinn get a better chance of nailing that first job.

Lily-Mae and Quinn are lining up to be among the first intake into Project Employ’s training café, for young adults with learning disabilities.

But the funding has not quite filled the charity’s coffers (or stocking) yet, so its team is hoping kind hearted Kiwis will help them out.

Project Employ needs around $100,000 to open the training café for young adults with disabilities to gain work skills and experience.

Lily-Mae (18) was born with Down Syndrome, but hasn’t let it put a stopper in her passion for life. “Project Employ’s training café idea is just fantastic, and I know a whole lot of parents like us are right behind it. I hope people can help get it off the ground.” says Lily-Mae's mum.

Quinn Simpson (19) has a dream of being a pizza chef. His mum, Karen, says Quinn, who is on the autism spectrum, is fairly independent and enjoys travelling around Auckland by bus.

Good Stocking is Project Employ’s Christmas fundraising campaign. Please help fill the stocking so young adults with disabilities can have a better chance of a future.

About Project Employ Training Cafe:

Sarah Dann-Hoare and Diane Eaglesome have launched Project Employ, to help young adults with learning disabilities gain the skills and experience required to secure paid employment and have the same fulfilment in life so many of us take for granted. Sarah witnessed many young, capable individuals struggle to find work post school, while working as a special education teacher, so knew something needed to be done. Diane has worked in disability support for many years and knows the transition years are challenging for the young person leaving school, as well as their whanau. The answer is simple, a training cafe to provide a place to gain work skills and experience, build confidence, and get work-ready.

In 2017 Sarah received an AMP Dare to Dream scholarship and the journey of Project Employ began. This award provided the funding to produce a web series of short films, entitled ‘Project Employ’ and directed by Angela Bloomfield, highlighting successful employment stories from both the employers and employees point of view. The films are still being used as a resource today for students, teachers and disability service providers. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC32WorAxy5GokuZzs0Rn-aA

Project Employ are aiming to open the training cafe for young adults with learning disabilities, in February 2022. Changing the world, one young person at a time.