Ohi started for one simple purpose.
Equal opportunity for
kids to thrive
Ohi means in maori “to grow”. This is what we want for all kiwi kids.
Where it all began
Meet Josephine Chang Holland, Ohi’s creator.
Mother, CA, MBA, CFO/COO, Entrepreneur
For Jo, poverty is very real as she lived alongside it her entire childhood. Born and raised in Kolkata, India - a city where billionaires and beggars share the same streets, Jo has always been palpably aware of the rich, poor, and the cavernous gap in between.
Growing up herself without luxuries, her parents made sure she and her sibling always had enough; number one above all else was education.
Jo is now a chartered accountant and MBA, with a passion to provide others the same opportunity her parents gave her. Ohi is her brainchild.
Several small acts
After moving to New Zealand in 2007, Jo helped through local churches and other charities such as Cancer Society, Feed a Family and Unicef. Wanting to do something on a more personal level, Jo began to sponsor children she came to know through friend circles and other networks.
She began sponsoring children’s swim and gymnastic classes, paying for stationery packs for families who couldn’t afford them, and providing school lunches to those going without.
Bridging the gap
The inequality of supportive environments to enable children to learn and reach their potential is huge. This disparity between NZ schools only a few kilometres apart immense: in some, children are sent daily to learn with an occasional bag of chips. In others, parents drop their children off in luxury cars with overflowing lunchboxes.
Ohi is based on the belief no child should miss out on opportunities to better themselves because of their situation.
Building better futures
The Maori custom to raise children together as a community is the model Ohi is designed on. In Maori Ohi translates as “to grow” and is chiefly used in relation to children.
This is exactly what Ohi is here to achieve, growth for children. To provide New Zealand’s underprivileged children with basic necessities and equal opportunities. To equip them with skills and education. We aim provide the necessities children need to reach their potential as adults. It’s a step towards supporting families out of the poverty cycle many are caught in.
Know that every cash donation is 100% theirs
At Ohi, 100% of any cash received goes to the recipients. What’s more, our donors can see exactly who they are helping, and select how they help.
This is made possible by our incredible team of professionals who donate their time and knowledge to facilitate and administer this charity.
The individuals that help make it all possible
Adel Megdyatova
(BBus(Hons)), (MBus(Hons)), MBA, Group Manager, Advisory Board member for AYP
Adel joined Ohi to contribute her time and knowledge to make a tangible difference to how kids in New Zealand grow up and improve their long-term prospects. Good nutrition, education and extra curriculum activities make part of the foundation for their future success as adults. Adel is really proud of New Zealand as a country and wants to improve the outcomes for kiwi kids from struggling families, to ensure that every child has a fair shot. She is passionate about making a difference locally and provides ongoing support to Cancer Society New Zealand and Auckland Health Foundation.
JJ Holland
BPh, Chef, Entrepreneur, Father
As a professional chef, JJ knows the importance of making a little go a long way, as well as how troublesome and down-right angry, hungry people can be. Getting involved with Ohi is JJ’s way of giving back. Being able to make a difference in the life of a child that could have been his classmate at primary school really resonates with JJ. More than anyone, he knows the value of good food to support development. impact on generations to come by feeding their bodies to grow their minds.
Kimberley McLean
BArch, Marketing + Communications Manager, Mother
Kimberley’s dedication to Ohi came from a core desire to be part of a change for children, and for the future of New Zealand. Kimberley believes access to education plays a significant role in a better future for the next generation and the country overall. Her work to translate Jo’s vision into a visible entity and ensuring its strength and message has helped bring Ohi to life. At her core is a passion to be part of the difference for so many little lives and to support others in being part of it too.
Shiva Raju
Bcom, LLB, LLM (Hons)
Shiva has supported Ohi’s setup to be a viable charity from the outset. He is excited to be part of advancing Ohi’s vision to support young New Zealanders in need to make the most of their education and opportunities. He believes that Ohi will bring about a greater quality of life to generations to come.
Vanessa Brown
BSc (Hons), PgDipSci, PhD (Thesis Submitted)
Vanessa believes in the three C’s in life: Chances, Choices, Changes. With Ohi Vanessa aspires to give children a Chance to make a Choice to bring about Change in their lives. Having survived the other big C (Cancer), Vanessa wants to help young children follow their dreams and live life to the fullest. She herself has recently submitted her PhD thesis in Biomedical Science, pushing herself beyond her current role as the Regional Sales Director (Asia-Pacific) for a nanotechnology company in Christchurch.