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in haiti, however only a week before Purple Cake Day launched children in Christchurch experienced their own terrifying earthquake. Families, friends, homes and schools were also lost – children in Haiti and New Zealand were suddenly connected. The Kenbe La Foundation has now partnered with the Children Of Haiti Project (COHP), which provides schooling to children from a tent camp in Port-au-Prince. With $15,000 of last year's Purple Cake Day fundraising children are now receiving an education, a hot meal at lunchtime and medical care. The COHP school was established just weeks after the earthquake, and provides learning opportunities to children with limited or no access to formal education. In April 2011 Emily returned to Haiti for the first time since the earthquake to see its progress. "It was a trip I knew I had to do," she says. "It was extremely difficult to be back in that environment amidst the destruction and devastation. Within 24 hours we had evacuated the country after the earthquake and I was in a state of shock. It was also an important trip for the work of the Foundation. We met with people within the education sector in Haiti and visited projects to learn and understand how to be most effective. "This is all part of my personal recovery; to bring my 10 years of humanitarian experience and what's happened with the tragedy to go forward with my new life with Alyahna, who will be turning four in April. Thankfully she didn't come out with any long term physical injuries, but as she becomes more aware of what she's been through I will need to continue to support her emotionally and answer any questions she has." Emily plans to return to Haiti again in April to build a school, with a team that includes builders and educators, and three 20ft shipping containers of furniture, educational resources, a school building and medical supplies. In 2012 Purple Cake Day aims to double its fundraising target to $60,000 to continue to sustain its education projects in Haiti and extend into Nepal as a new 'country of focus. A comprehensive Education Resource Kit has been developed for the Purple Cake Day programme and is online for schools and community groups to learn about and get involved with. Education projects in Nepal will be delivered in partnership with First Steps Himalaya, In Time Trust and the Himalayan Trust, established by Sir Edmund Hillary. The collaboration plans to establish an early childhood education centre, provide educational resources and training to schools, build and equip a library and provide student scholarships to children in disadvantaged rural communities. For more information about Purple Cake Day 2012, how to get involved and how to donate visit www.purplecakeday.org Setting up a charitable trust You must first establish what your objectives are going to be. It was clear for us that would be providing educational opportunities to children living in hardship. If children are educated they have a chance to achieve their potential and direct their future – it's a road out of poverty. Establish the trustees and the charitable objectives. We formed a board of trustees including New Zealand-based and international trustees. Register with the charities commission and then start fundraising and raising awareness. There is enormous potential to grow a charity with social media. Fundraising pages on Facebook and Twitter are a great forum for people to share ideas with a common interest. HER MAGAZINE | February/March 2012 | 49