Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
View all programs Poverty and illness a tough juggling act for families
26 July 2021
All single mum Carissa wanted was for her three children to have the same opportunities as other kids. But her time and finances were stretched to breaking point, as she helped two of them battle health problems on top of life’s other demands.
Carissa was constantly worrying about how she could support Mia, 7, Noah, 11 and Bayden, 12 with their schoolwork. With two of her children requiring ongoing medical treatment, often involving interstate travel, it meant the boys often missed school. Weekly routines like good homework habits became impossible. Carissa had so little time left to help with schoolwork: the boys just couldn’t keep up.
That’s why it was such an amazing feeling when loyal Champions like you made it possible for Noah and Bayden get their learning back on track. Thanks to your regular gifts, the boys could start attending our out-of-school Learning Club. There, with help from trained volunteers, they have improved their English and mathematics. And they have even gained new skills in coding and robotics.
“Knowing there is someone else who can give them one-on-one time in the subject they are having trouble with has really helped me,” says Carissa. “They look forward to Learning Club every week. They are a lot happier when they come out. It makes me happy that they’re catching up with their classmates.”
At home, things have changed too. Carissa’s boys are now excited to tackle homework. “Their confidence has increased — and they don’t feel like they’re behind anymore,” says Carissa. “I feel so proud when their teachers tell me how much they’ve improved.”
“Their confidence has increased — and they don’t feel like they’re behind anymore,” says Carissa. “I feel so proud when their teachers tell me how much they’ve improved.”
Through our student2student program, Noah has also been paired with a reading buddy who is a little bit older. The pair read together over the phone a few times a week — and Noah now dives into books. “Noah wasn’t really interested in reading because he didn’t feel confident in himself to read things properly without mucking up and getting words wrong,” says Carissa.
“At first, he was a bit shy with his reading buddy, but now he enjoys it and looks forward to it every week. He’s come out of his shell and is a lot more involved in the classroom. It also means I can concentrate on Mia and Bayden with reading – I’m not trying to break myself in three to help them progress. This has taken quite a bit of stress off me.”
Parenting is always a juggling act. When you throw poverty and health issues in the mix, keeping all the balls in the air is almost impossible. Carissa just wants her children to get the best education they can. She is thrilled her sons now have “heaps of ideas” about what they want to do after school.
“Bayden is definitely hoping to one day go to university,” she says. “The kids now realise education is their path to a better life. Thanks to Smith Family supporters, they are getting the opportunities they deserve.”
“At first, he was a bit shy with his reading buddy, but now he enjoys it and looks forward to it every week. He’s come out of his shell and is a lot more involved in the classroom. It also means I can concentrate on Mia and Bayden with reading – I’m not trying to break myself in three to help them progress. This has taken quite a bit of stress off me.”
Parenting is always a juggling act. When you throw poverty and health issues in the mix, keeping all the balls in the air is almost impossible. Carissa just wants her children to get the best education they can. She is thrilled her sons now have “heaps of ideas” about what they want to do after school.
“Bayden is definitely hoping to one day go to university,” she says. “The kids now realise education is their path to a better life. Thanks to Smith Family supporters, they are getting the opportunities they deserve.”
Read more student and family stories in our Autumn 2021 edition of Real People, Real Stories.
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