In late September 2023, Paul will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in support of the Baraka Learning Center and the children that so deeply rely on it for community support, education, sports, and activities. The elevation of Uhuru Peak at the top of Kilimanjaro is 19,341 feet so we thought it would be fun to set a fundraising goal of $19,341, which will be matched by Koru Pacific Foundation.
Continuing Andrea’s involvement with Baraka Community Partnerships, which dates back to 2013, Koru Pacific Foundation has been actively involved in two new projects at the Baraka Learning Center in Zambia this year. We have worked closely with Baraka on the planning and design of a new two-classroom science block for up to 64 students, as well as a new girls safe house that will provide secure housing for up to 30 girls. Koru Pacific Foundation is funding the new science block, and we facilitated a partnership with World Housing who have generously stepped up to provide the funding for the girl’s safe house. Learn more here.
Paul and Andrea will also be volunteering at the Learning Center in Zambia in October 2023. Their first job is to help out with whatever work needs to be done to finish off construction of the new science block and get it ready for the furniture and science lab equipment to be installed. They will then be working to support the volunteer medical team from Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock who will be on site for a week delivering medical care to people that will arrive from across the region.
CAMINO FOR KIDS 2022
In May 2022, Paul walked 525 km of the Camino del Norte in Spain, partly to raise money for Backpack Buddies through our campaign called Camino for Kids! Thanks to your generous support, we were able to contribute over $28,000 to Backpack Buddies!
Founded by Paul and Andrea Woodward, the Koru Pacific Foundation is a private foundation committed to helping children and families with access to food, shelter, basic infrastructure, education, and health care.
Our mission is to provide financial support to Canadian registered charities offering programs and initiatives aligned with our goals, focusing on children and families with diverse needs both locally and around the world.
The Koru Pacific Foundation is run entirely on a volunteer basis, has no full-time staff and all administration costs are fully funded by Koru Pacific Development Ltd., meaning 100% of every dollar goes directly to the benefit of the initiatives we strive to support.
We feel fortunate to have been able to provide support to the following organizations.
Baraka Canada
Baraka Community Partnerships is a charity committed to improving education, healthcare, water and sanitation in Zambia and Laos. Baraka Canada was started in 2013 with the original goal to support medical trips to Zambia by building a working relationship between Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock, BC and Kabwe Hospital in Zambia. Since then, the Zambia mission has expanded. As well as sending out teams of doctors and nurses to Zambia on a biennial basis, Baraka Canada has become increasingly involved in fund-raising activities, working with sponsored children, and providing financial aid for a learning centre and other educational projects in Zambia.
As a former board member and volunteer in both Zambia and Laos, Andrea has witnessed the impact that Baraka has on the communities in which it works and Koru Pacific Foundation is proud to provide financial support for their mission in Zambia.
Backpack Buddies
Families across BC living in poverty struggle to keep food on the table over the weekends when school meal programs are closed. For over 5,300 kids, Backpack Buddies provides a weekly bag of food including nine meals and snacks to feed children for the weekend and beyond. From seaweed snacks and hummus to sweet peppers and tuna, these weekly bags are loaded with kid-approved food to keep kids growing.
Backpack Buddies provides over 1.25 million meals a year to children across British Columbia who would otherwise not have eaten on the weekend.
Koru Pacific Foundation is pleased to provide financial support each year, and Andrea continues to enjoy working with the team as a volunteer at the North Vancouver warehouse.
Ronald McDonald House BC and Yukon
When parents have a child who is battling a serious illness and the specialized care required is hours from home, the situation can feel overwhelming. Paul learned first-hand how invaluable the support of a Ronald McDonald House can be during a very difficult time.
For over 35 years, Ronald McDonald House BC has offered accommodation that keeps children and families close to that specialized care and an incredible community of support. Today, RMH BC is a wonderful 73-bedroom house located near BC Children’s Hospital.
Koru Pacific Foundation has made a 3-year commitment to adopt one of these rooms.
Charitable Registration Number: 786599464RR0001