Organization Name: King-Hazel Whānau Rutu Aperira
Person Name: Rutu King-Hazel
Location: Nelson
Rutu’s dreams and aspirations come from lived experience following the tragic suicide of her 18year old brother, and she determined to do something to honour his memory and help raise awareness about suicide causations and risks. Her project is to incorporate her passion for fashion by starting a clothing line called “Hope is MyHomeboy” saying “Check on your homies” on the back. With each item her vision is to promote a message of hope to remind people that they are not alone.
One thing Rutu observed walking alongside her brother for 18 years, was the constant pressures of the world that oppress and depress youth today. A sense of feeling that they are not enough, that they are always behind in life which leaves them carrying this pressure of needing to catch up all the time. This can be exhausting, and sometimes some eventually give up.
Rutu’s hope with her clothing line is that this will be a reminder to check up and care for each other, that our home and whānau is a place where we can just be ourselves and feel safe, secure and seen. It is about empowering those in need and creating opportunities for them to create a life worth living. giving back to our communities and taking a hands-on approach to helping others
