Dunedin foster care children will have something to call their own thanks to an Otago Girls' High School business project.
Six year 12 pupils at the school are set to gift 100 care packs full of stationary, soft toys, books and entertainment passes to foster children in the city.
Aditi Project member Nikita Gibson (16), said all members of the group knew people who had been raised in foster families, and it was this that inspired the project.
''We wanted to know our project would be put to good use and this way we know it will.''
The name of the project came from the Hindu goddess Aditi, who children prayed to for protection, Nikita said.
Fellow member Madeline Pleace (16) said the group had met people from Presbyterian Support and the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki, to discuss the needs of children aged 8-14 in care.
''It was quite hard learning about what some people have gone through, but it also made us more determined to do well.''
All of the packs had a scrapbook in them to encourage the children to record memories and write down their thoughts, she said.
The pupils raised funds for the packs, worth about $17 each, by selling soap, generating sponsorship and soliciting donations.
Feedback from the sponsor businesses, and the services that would benefit from the packs had been positive, Nikita said.
''Everyone has been very supportive and really positive.''
The project, which involved the pupils learning about all aspects of the business, from plans to the final product, had been equally as enjoyable as helping vulnerable children, she said.
The pupils thanked their sponsors at a presentation at the school yesterday.
