When children and young people experience the loss of a special person, it is tough stuff. They often struggle with grief, experiencing feelings of isolation and loneliness which can create social, behavioural and academic challenges for them.
Unfortunately, in our death-averse society, many grieving children and young people have few opportunities to share their feelings and stories of grief. It is critically important for them to know that they are not alone.
They need opportunities to express how they are feeling, to share the sadness, loneliness, confusion they feel, and to be heard.
Kenzie's Gift is there for children, young people and families living with serious illness and bereavement, and has created these support kits so they do not have to grieve alone.
There is a colourful, interactive Diary for children aged 5-12 years, full of memory creating activities, coping tools and strategies to help.
For young adults, there is a comprehensive booklet full of helpful information, tips and advice on how to get through.
There is also a small booklet for caregivers offering guidance and advice on how to support and reassure children and young adults.
Please contact us to receive a copy of Memories are Forever.
Kenzie's Gift gratefully acknowledges the following for their valued contributions to the packs: Fairfax Media/Ports of Auckland Round the Bays 2015, the design team at Benefitz, the artists involved in the Warehouse Stationery Great NZ Colouring Book who donated their work, Lorna Wood, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, writer Jane Bissell, Pub Charities and Kelliher Charitable Trust.
We think you’ll have fun using this Diary because you can write in it, draw pictures of you or your family and friends, store stickers and
photos and little notes...but the Diary also asks you to write down some important stuff too:
- Questions you want to ask
- Things you want to talk about
- Names of the people looking after you
- How you feel
Some famous people throughout history have told us how they feel and you’ll find signposts in the Diary with some of the things they’ve said. Watch for the signposts along the way. How many of those people do you know? Their words will guide us, make us think about things and cheer us up too.
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This year marks a very special anniversary for me and for Kenzie's Gift.
It has been ten years since I lost my daughter Kenzie. Family, friends and the community were there for me throughout our journey, and I truly understood the value of support for families enduring the worst grief imaginable. That is why I established Kenzie's Gift: to help families during times of profound grief and loss.
I hope that this booklet will provide helpful information and insights for parents experiencing a bereavement within the family, and guidance for speaking with your children about the loss of a loved one.
The Memories are Forever Diary which accompanies this booklet is designed for children aged 5-12 years. The diary features fun things to do and encourages children to remember in an individual way. It also prompts them to express how they are feeling with visual cues and activities.
I believe it is better to tell a child a sad truth than a mistruth, wrap the support around them, and help them develop coping mechanisms so they may learn to live with their loss. That is the essence of Kenzie's Gift.
We are exceedingly grateful to the Fairfax/Ports of Auckland Round the Bays 2015 for the wonderful donation which has helped to make the Memories are Forever pack a reality for us.
Nic Russell
CEO, Kenzie's Gift
November 2015
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Kenzie's Gift is a registered charity under the Charities Act 2005. No: CC21425
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