Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
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04 April 2016
Claire has always loved school. And single mum, Michelle, wanted Claire to get the education she deserved. Yet, Michelle was struggling to cover rent, power and food. There was little left over for the school essentials.
When Claire was in Year 2, she started receiving sponsorship. The financial assistance gave her the chance to fit in and take part in the same learning experiences as her friends.
“[Sponsorship helps with] school uniforms and shoes. She's been in the choir. They have excursions and things. She's got ambitions … so it means a lot to us that we’ve got somebody that cares enough to help us with that,” said Michelle.
[Sponsorship helps with] school uniforms and shoes. She's been in the choir. They have excursions and things. She's got ambitions … so it means a lot to us that we’ve got somebody that cares enough to help us with that.
Financial hardship wasn’t Claire’s only challenge. As a child she had developmental problems and needed speech therapy. With more and more reading aloud in class as Claire moved through primary school, she became self-conscious and fell behind.
“She wouldn’t try to sound the words out. She wouldn’t attempt it, she’d just stare at the page,” said Michelle.
Sponsorship gives children in need wrap-around support, including access to our learning programs. Through student2student Claire was matched with an older student reading buddy, Abby. The 18-week program pairs students who are at least two years behind in their reading with trained buddies who mentor them over the phone while they both read the same book.
Michelle has seen Claire blossom after three years of doing student2student. Having support from someone closer to her age gave Claire the confidence to try.
“There is improvement with the comments in her school report and things, because she’s getting that confidence up,” said Michelle.
“Even though we don’t know Abby personally, Claire and Abby are little mates on the phone. Abby encourages her to sound words out, loudly. Claire’s more inclined to listen to her direction. Her face lights up when she knows there’s a lesson coming up that day.”
I want her to be able to do whatever she puts her mind to. This is what this does. They are brilliant people.
Thanks to our sponsors and volunteer buddies like Abby, Claire is now ready to dive into high school. Michelle is so grateful that Claire has the opportunity to make the best of her future.
“I want her to be able to do whatever she puts her mind to. This is what this does. They are brilliant people.”
