Eastern & Central Community Trust (ECCT) makes funding donations to community organisations in Gisborne District, Hawke's Bay, Tararua, Wairarapa, Manawatu & Horowhenua.
Gisborne District
A $35,000 donation from the Eastern and Central Community Trust is being given to Te Unga Mai Trust in Gisborne to help develop a downloadable computer education application that studies the traditional science of voyaging, with a particular focus on navigation.
Te Unga Mai estimates the development may cost more than $220,000. When completed, it will contribute to the school curriculum providing teaching modules on the voyaging and arrival of Maori ancestors in New Zealand.
The Community Trust says Te Unga Mai has been delivering a variety of educational material for use in Gisborne for the past five years. It is intended to pilot the educational application in Awapuni Primary School when it is completed.
A donation of $14,500 has been approved for the Red Cross in Gisborne. It will be used to take Red Cross youth programmes around the region. Many schools are missing out on such training because of their remoteness.
The Community Trust says funding a vehicle is important for ensuring young people in rural schools do not miss out on learning such skills and a vehicle capable of travelling long distances on gravel roads is essential.
The Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union will be able to install lights on its training ground at Rugby Park, thanks to a $9,900 Community Trust donation.