Oke has built 70 outdoor classrooms in the past 10 years and most of them can be found in South Auckland schools.
Charity founder Paul Dickson says he picked up a spade almost a decade ago because he saw too many kids in South Auckland struggling in classrooms that didn’t fit them.
“I wanted to build spaces where tamariki could learn by doing, where confidence grows alongside carrots, and where teamwork, curiosity, and joy thrive in the open air.”
Fast forward to today and the project has provided more than 36,000 tamariki across Aotearoa with the chance to learn outside.
But with funding for not-for-profits becoming harder to secure, Paul is worried about how much longer he will be able to sustain the programme.
So he is looking for 500 supporters to pay $500 a year (about $10 a week) to keep Oke’s outdoor learning programme thriving.
That’s enough to raise $250,000 and secure Oke’s future.
“Kids today are more connected to screens than to the soil beneath their feet. They’re anxious, restless, and disconnected,” Paul says. “But in Oke outdoor classrooms, we see the opposite. When kids get outside, they come alive.”
Over the past three years, Oke has worked alongside the University of Auckland Early Learning Lab on groundbreaking research into outdoor learning involving 95 students and seven teachers.
The research demonstrated that the children felt happier, calmer, and more confident in the garden. Māori and Pasifika learners, and kids who struggle inside, particularly found a sense of belonging outside. Teachers reported improvements in teamwork, leadership, and behaviour.
Wiri Licensing Trust has signed up to the Oke Growers Club, becoming one of the 500 supporters needed to ensure this mahi can continue long term.
General Manager Kim Green says the money will come from the Wiri Community Impact Fund.
“The Trust has backed Oke since 2021, when we provided a recommendation of support for its application for funds to buy a van.
“It’s a privilege to be part of a project that empowers local children to become confident, resilient, and better equipped to make a positive impact in their communities and the world.”
Kim hopes South Auckland businesses and funders will also get behind Oke so they can continue to learn essential life and social skills in outdoor classrooms.
Another way locals can help is by signing up to fundraise for Oke through the 2026 Round the Bays Auckland fun run and walk.
If you have an idea that would make a difference in your neighbourhood but need a little help to make it happen, find out if you’re eligible for a Wiri Community Impact Fund grant.
