By Pretoria Gordon for RNZ
A Porirua high school has raised more than $72,000 towards a trip to Europe – the first time the school has ever planned a trip to the continent.
Mana College, which in a low socio-economic area, has been fundraising since September. Twenty students have been working to raise the $165,000 needed to go to Germany, the Netherlands, France and Denmark for 16 days in April 2025.
German teacher Elin Lorenzen said even when the students were coming home from cleaning a stadium after an event at 2am, they asked what else they could do to raise the money.
“These students and their whānau are such a great example of the beautiful Porirua community, caring for one another, showing up and working hard,” she said.
The students have been doing everything they can to fundraise – raffles, bake sales, sausage sizzles, hangi, hosting quiz nights, comedy nights and discos.
Mana College added German as a subject as a trial four years ago. Lorenzen said the students embraced the language and culture with so much manaakitanga and interest that it now had a year 10, 11 and 12 class.
“After all the love, manaakitanga, curiosity and care the students have shown towards German culture and language – how could I not take them to the country they have been learning so passionately about?”
She said she wanted to thank Mana College.
“The school could’ve easily said no,” Lorenzen said.
“I think that speaks to how supportive Mana College really is, and wanting to see their students to flourish and succeed.”
Mana College year 13 dean Lana McLaughlin-Khan said they wanted to fundraise so it was not too big of a financial stress for any of the students and their whānau.
She said even students that were not going on the trip had been doing hours of work to support the students that were.
Assistant principal Jeff Chapman said the students had all embodied Mana College’s values of manaakitanga, ako (learn, teach), ngakau (determination, perseverance) and aspire.
He said one student, Blade, had really impressed him in terms of his entrepreneurial spirit.
“He’s gone out there, he’s been on GoFundMe, he’s knocked on people’s doors asking to do odd jobs,” Chapman said.
“He’s raised so much money that now he’s giving it away to the rest of the students.”
“We’re working so hard so we can get this amazing experience,” student León said.
It has not just been about going to Europe next year for one student – Darcy said he was just having fun working with the other students and making new friends.
With one year left to go, Mana College is only $93,000 away from their goal.
They opened a GiveALittle page on Saturday, and raised more than $500 in two days.