Home for pregnant teens needs a van

New Zealand has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the developed world. Child poverty, family violence, abuse and neglect, drug and alcohol abuse, and stunted education can often follow in the footsteps of teenage pregnancy.

Treena and Marcus van Rjissel started The House of Grace 17 years ago, because they were passionate about seeing pregnant teenagers, and their babies, get the loving care of a safe family while they learnt how to safely parent and make plans for a successful future.

The House of Grace is a home. Volunteer 'House Parent's, and their children, live at the house, and provide the loving and stable family home that many young girls and their babies so desperately need. It's a place where the girls learn what a healthy family unit looks like, where they are encouraged to return to their own education and make plans for theirs and baby's futures, and it's a place where love, grace and learning abound.

A vehicle is an essential part of daily life at the house, as the residents of such a large and busy home require transportation to medical appointments, school, social worker visits, and parenting courses.

Our current van is only an 8 seater, and is simply not large enough for all of the girls and their babies to fit into. This makes life very difficult and we desperately need a larger van. We have been trying to access funding through all of the traditional sources (sponsorship, local grants etc) but have been unable to secure anything.

Pregnant teenagers from the age of 12 are welcomed into The House of Grace, which means that their education is vitally important. There is a wonderful school for pregnant teens and young mums that our girls are able to attend, but it is two buses, and an hour and half journey – which is not ideal for a young mum and baby on a cold, wet winters morning.

Having a larger van will mean that we can ensure our girls are getting the education they so desperately need, and their babies are staying warm, dry and well.

As a non-profit and non–government funded organisation, we rely on the generous donations from people who share our heart to see young lives changed.

With your support we can provide a positive start in life for a new generation of families and help young Mum's plan for a brighter future.

Please will you join us to ensure we can help transport our gorgeous young girls and their babies to essential places like school, medical appointments, counselling and parenting courses?