This November, as part of our Good Impressions initiative, Go Media has been proudly supporting the I AM HOPE Foundation and their Gumboot Friday fundraiser. I AM HOPE is a charity that aims to promote positive societal change around mental health and provide NZ youth with support and resources.

"I AM HOPE has one goal - positive societal attitudinal change. We know our youth struggle with distressing self-talk and overthinking, leaving them feeling isolated and alone. When we show them these thoughts are universal, we can give our kids a better life” - Kahlia McDougall, General Manager of I am Hope

I AM HOPE works within our communities and schools, opening up the conversation about mental health and providing young Kiwis with the tools, resources, and support that they need to overcome their own mental health challenges.

They provide this support through their "Little People, Big Feelings" and "It's Cool to Kōrero" programmes, where ambassadors from I AM HOPE visit schools all over Aotearoa. These Programmes help to normalise everyday challenges such as imposter syndrome and rejection sensitivity. Covering topics such as bullying, overthinking, doubt, and distress, with a big focus on increasing help-seeking behaviour.

Gumboot Friday is another way I AM HOPE supports young New Zealanders. Gumboot Friday is a fundraising campaign that brings awareness to mental health, while raising money to fund free counselling sessions for Aotearoa’s youth.

Over the past year, I AM HOPE has increased its counselling sessions by more than 200% - with 19,112 sessions offered between October 2021 and September 2022. Without the funds raised through Gumboot Friday donations, these free counselling sessions would not be possible.

Kahlia continues, “With ever-increasing demand, we are committed to creating positive societal attitudinal change, while also giving more youth access to counselling when they need it. Small steps every day towards a big goal, until every child in New Zealand feels heard, seen, and supported." 

Go Media is proud to support this incredibly important organisation, partnering up with I AM HOPE to gather support and donations for Gumboot Friday. You may have seen their campaign on one of our digital billboards across the country, calling for New Zealanders to text to donate, or our feature on the Gumboot Friday livestream. This contributed to one of their biggest text-to-donate drives to date, receiving an amazing $3,000,000 in donations (and counting).

As a non-governmental organisation (NGO) I AM HOPE relies on these generous donations to continue their crucial work in helping Aotearoa’s youth navigate their mental health.

You can support I AM HOPE, through a donation, by becoming an I AM HOPE counsellor (registered practitioners only), or joining the Gumboot Army.

You can also follow I AM HOPE (@iamhope_nz) and Gumboot Friday (@gumbootupNZ) (@gumbootfriday) on Facebook and Instagram.