Children's charity Purple Cake Day has raised $80,000 this year, exceeding its target by $20,000.

The money will go to helping educate children in Haiti and Nepal.

Many Nelsonians took part in Purple Cake Day, celebrated officially on March 1, which aims to help children learn about other children globally and fundraise for those in need.

Humanitarian aid worker Emily Sanson-Rejouis established Purple Cake Day after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, in which her husband and two of her daughters died.

Ms Sanson-Rejouis said: "The fantastic result is a credit to everyone involved. The effects of Purple Cake Day's 2012 celebrations will be felt for many years, especially where we are investing in teacher training, classroom resources and a library that will benefit many children over time."

The three project partners in Nepal will receive a total of $48,250. First Steps Himalaya's share will help them develop early learning and year one pilot classrooms in four remote village schools. In Time Trust will create a library at the Kailesh Bodhi School it supports in Jumla, north-west Nepal, giving 297 children and their teachers their first real access to books. Sir Edmund Hillary's Hillary Himalayan Trust will provide scholarships for teenagers not normally able to attend college, due to the cost or walking distance.

First Steps Himalaya chief executive Fionna Heiton said thanks to Purple Cake Day, it had gained widespread recognition in Nepal for its work. "We're at a very exciting stage of our growth. We're now opening year one classes, providing transition to school, and are working to create model schools in partnership with the Nepali government in our project area."

A total of $20,750 will be used to sustain Haiti education projects that have been supported since last year. Project partner Children of Haiti Project, will receive $15,000 to continue providing education, a daily meal and medical care for 87 children left homeless by the 2010 earthquake. A total of $5750 is earmarked for the Henri Christophe Community School rebuild project.

The remaining $11,000 has been set aside as a children's emergency fund.

Ms Sanson-Rejouis said the fund would enable Purple Cake Day to respond to a humanitarian emergency, as it did last year when it contributed to Save the Children NZ's Journey of Hope Programme for children affected by the Christchurch earthquake.

It is the second year Purple Cake Day has run and it had been a catalyst for more than 100 purple-themed celebrations, fundraising and education activities in classrooms and communities.

More than 1000 people in 28 countries, many of them teachers, downloaded its 46-page resource kit, which provides information, ideas and activities related to the charity and its country in focus.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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