Mentoring a child – being a friend…

Jul 11, 2025 | Articles

Logo_Pillars Ka Pou WhakahouHelping children stride into the future with Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou.

At Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou, we believe every child deserves the chance to step-out into the future with confidence, no matter their circumstances.
But right now, an estimated 17,000 tamariki with a parent in prison face an invisible sentence.
Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou supports the tamariki (children) and whānau of people in prison to create positive futures for themselves. We walk alongside whānau, providing wraparound social work and mentoring programmes.

Advert_ become a mentorMentoring matters for tamariki and rangatahi (young people) with a parent in prison, who often come from unstable pasts and face uncertain futures.
Thanks to the generosity of communities like yours, we are able to provide mentoring that brings stability, connection, and hope.

Here’s just one beautiful example of what your support helps make possible:
(All names and images have been changed to protect anonymity.)
Heather is 11—bright and curious. But life hasn’t been easy. Her whānau has faced big changes, including a recent move to a rural area where isolation made her world feel very small.
Then she met Becca.

Mentor and child

Becca became Heather’s mentor through our volunteer programme. Full of warmth and enthusiasm, Becca felt drawn to give back and offer steady support to a child who needed someone.
From their very first meeting, something clicked.

Mentor and child playing a version of hopscotchTheir connection grew into laughter, learning, and new experiences. They explore the city, try new things, and share honest conversations. Heather has gained confidence, a sense of adventure, and most importantly, someone who consistently shows up.

Last year, 193 tamariki (children) were connected with a volunteer mentor.
Mentoring is about more than just time spent together. It’s about giving tamariki the chance to see beyond their current circumstances and to believe in a positive future.

Together, we are helping to break cycles of intergenerational offending and walk alongside whānau as they create positive futures for themselves.
Your generosity reminds tamariki that they are seen, valued, and part of a wider community, walking alongside them.

Your kindness is felt in every mentoring match and in every step we take toward a positive future for every child in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

You can always support our mahi – here:
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Communication & Fundraising Lead
Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou

We were privileged to welcome the National Practice Manager from Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou, as the guest speaker at the our Christchurch Diocesan Social Concerns Event in June. The Koha allowed us to donate $208 to Pillars.(Ed)

 

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