Charity Profile Series – Daphne Wyngaard, ChildFund New Zealand

Welcome to part one of our Charity Profile series - where we talk to some of the amazing people working at our Superpartner charities in Aotearoa. Our first interviewee is the amazing Daphne Wyngaard who works in Donor Services at ChildFund New Zealand. She was kind enough to share what she loves about working for a charity, what’s happening for the rest of the year at ChildFund and what the biggest challenges are in the not-for-profit sector.

I have been working in the not-for-profit sector for 2 years since I moved to New Zealand from South Africa. 

What made you want to work for a charity? 

Being from South Africa I have seen poverty firsthand and know how much charity is needed. From a young age I watched my grandmother give her time and resources to helping people. Her compassion for everyone and the joy she brought into many lives is what inspired me. 

‍What’s the biggest misconception about charities or working for a charity that you hear? 

I always hear “Charity begins at home” and while that is somewhat true, I do believe that we should teach our children about generosity, compassion and that it doesn’t end at home.

What’s your favourite thing about working at ChildFund? 

I can honestly say that my favourite thing about working at ChildFund is the people. Their passion and love for their work is evident and what makes ChildFund an amazing place to work at. Everyone is dedicated to making a difference and they are all just so awesome.

What exciting initiatives/appeals are coming up for ChildFund this year? 

We have our Annual Christmas appeal coming up. There is an ongoing drought that’s impacting people’s lives in East Africa. Our appeal will focus on helping children who need it most with access to drought-tolerant crops, safe drinking water and more. We will also be shining a light on our all-year round Gifts that Grow (make sure you check that out!).

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges that charities in New Zealand face? 

Right now, it would have to be Covid-19 and lockdowns. Many families have a reduction in income and because it’s an uncertain time for a lot of families and they are worried for their future, charity donations are one of the first things they cancel. We allow our sponsors time to evaluate their situations by offering a hold for three months instead of cancelling straight away as most families bounce back in no time. Also, to help make things easier for people to donate, we have a couple of new initiatives to help Kiwis who still want to help children. We have partnered with AA Smartfuel where members can get fuel discounts for every donation above $100, and we’ve also partnered with Chooza.com, an online auction site, where people can sell items and the proceeds can go back to help children through ChildFund! 

What gives you hope for the future of charitable giving? 

New Zealand is known as one of the most generous countries in the world and I think that will continue to be the case forever.

Did you know you can make your donations to ChildFund New Zealand go even further by signing up to Supergenerous and choosing to regift your donation rebate? It’s an awesome way to extend your generosity and help them continue their awesome mahi.

You can also claim and regift your donation rebates for any donation you have made over the past four years to a registered charitable organisation in New Zealand. Every bit counts, especially during times of lockdown.

‍Sign up now

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