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The cost of living continues to climb, Australian children experiencing disadvantage need you now more than ever
One in six Australian children and young people are growing up in poverty1, where even the bare necessities are hard to come by. In a family where there is no regular income, money goes on food, rent and bills. Finding money for a school uniform, proper shoes, textbooks or the next school excursion is often impossible.
Right now, 12,116 children are waiting for sponsors. Please help them receive the support they need at this critical time.
Help Molly break the cycle of poverty through education
Molly’s mum, Angie, has reduced her hours working in retail to pursue studies to become a paralegal as Angie is determined to secure a better future for her family. But the cost of living has risen so much that the family is really struggling now, and Angie is torn between taking on more shifts or continuing to study, so they’ll be better off in the end.
Her daughter Molly, a 7-year-old girl in Year 2, feels the impact of the financial strain. Without the right uniform or school shoes, Molly stands out among her peers, feeling embarrassed and self-conscious. Despite Angie's efforts, tough decisions like choosing between petrol for the car and buying Molly warm clothing weigh heavily on her.
Molly, aware of her family's financial stress, avoids asking for school essentials or to go on excursions, missing out on important learning opportunities.
I just want to fit in and do well in school, but it's hard when I don't have the same things as the other kids. I'm determined to keep trying, no matter what.
Molly is in a critical phase of her education. Students who don’t understand the basics of reading and writing in their foundational primary school years are set up to struggle through the rest of their educational experience.
Despite her best efforts, Molly has noticed she's falling behind her peers. She’s feeling frustrated because she’s trying her absolute best.
As Angie is juggling work and her own study commitments to become a paralegal, she has limited time to help her daughter Molly with her homework.
It's critical that Molly gets the early intervention she needs now, before this gap grows wider. Molly needs targeted extra learning support to keep up with her classmates and succeed at school.
For $58 a month, your sponsorship combined with that of another sponsor, will provide a child with the learning essentials they need such as books, stationery and data, so they don't fall even further behind.
Sponsor now How your sponsorship helps a child experiencing disadvantage
You can give children like Molly a chance to break the cycle of poverty.
Currently, 1 in 6 children1 in Australia grow up facing similar challenges to Molly. They confront daily obstacles that hinder their academic progress and limit their potential. However, early intervention and targeted, long-term support offer a proven, effective solution.
For $58 a month, your sponsorship can provide a child with:
School essentials
Financial support to pay for stationery, backpacks, shoes and a complete school uniform, as well as school books and extra-curricular activities like school excursions.
Local, personalised support
Your sponsored child will be paired with one of our Learning for Life Coordinators who offers support with their schooling and links them to local learning opportunities.
Access to additional learning support
Ongoing access to our out-of-school learning and mentoring programs to help students build the skills to thrive at school and beyond.
You can make sure poverty doesn’t hold Molly back from reaching her full potential.
Poverty puts so many barriers in Molly’s schooling. Without the right uniform, shoes, and school bag, Molly feels self-conscious and struggles to fit in with her classmates. She lacks the confidence to fully participate in class, fearing more attention.
Molly struggles to keep up with her schoolwork without the necessary stationery and a proper workspace at home. She often does her homework on her bed, which is not ideal.
To help her fit in better, Molly would love to invite friends back to her home – but they live in a small rental unit, and she shares a bedroom with her little brother. They don’t have a fridge full of nice snacks to share, and she’s worried about what her friends might think.
Molly struggles to keep up with her schoolwork without the necessary stationery and a proper workspace at home. She often does her homework on her bed, which is not ideal.
To help her fit in better, Molly would love to invite friends back to her home – but they live in a small rental unit, and she shares a bedroom with her little brother. They don’t have a fridge full of nice snacks to share, and she’s worried about what her friends might think.
However, every day, Molly faces her challenges with courage, striving to participate in class despite feeling out of place. Yet, poverty remains a barrier, hindering her progress and limiting her opportunities.
Imagine the heights Molly could reach if she had the same tools and support as her peers. With proper resources and assistance, she could unleash her full potential, thriving academically and beyond. Your sponsorship will provide a child like Molly with ongoing financial and educational support, empowering her to catch up, keep up, and realise her dreams.
Find out more
Please sponsor an Australian child like Molly today and give them access to the support they need to unlock their potential and build a better future for themselves.
*Molly’s name, location and associated images have been changed to protect her identity.
1 Poverty in Australia, 2020, ACOSS/UNSW overview report.