The future looks bright for determined students like Evenezer

09 January 2023

“I’m the first in my family to finish high school and the first to go to university,” says Evenezer, who made Australia home as a refugee in 2011.

“I wouldn’t have achieved that without The Smith Family’s support. We connected with The Smith Family soon after we arrived. Since then, I’ve always taken every opportunity I could get involved in.

“I’ve loved every little thing I’ve done with them.”

Evenezer was just 10 years old when he moved from Eritrea in Eastern Africa with his mum and sister. Evenezer had to navigate a different language and unfamiliar country along with starting a new school. In spite of these barriers, he was a bright student and motivated to succeed.

In primary school, The Smith Family connected him with a sponsor. And he grabbed all the opportunities that came with the support.

His sponsor helped to pay for learning essentials so he could concentrate on school. This also gave him access to a Learning for Life Coordinator and other Smith Family learning programs, including Learning Club, which really helped Evenezer develop his English. These were the tools he needed to build big educational and career aspirations.

Evenezer has been a dedicated student through every stage of school, all the way to studying a Bachelor of Business Management and Innovation with Accounting.

I’m the first in my family to finish high school and the first to go to university. I wouldn’t have achieved that without The Smith Family’s support.

Evenezer, Learning for Life student

He is also currently taking part in our Cadetship to Career program. Cadetship to Career is a youth employment program jointly developed by The Smith Family and Business Council of Australia. It links students with employers for paid, flexible, multi-year cadetship opportunities. Evenezer is now working in a paid role with a renewable energy company. And it is helping to kickstart his career.

“It’s been a great experience. I want to work for a futuristic company, or within an organisation working towards a net-zero carbon footprint in energy or electric vehicles. My dream is to start my own business that doesn’t just make money, but also helps people,” says Evenezer.

As he looks back on everything he’s achieved, Evenezer is bursting with pride and gratitude.

“I'm proud of myself just being able to go through it. Just being able to have the energy and the courage to keep pushing myself. Also working and helping my mother with the bills and with uni. I'm doing really well,” he reflects.

“I couldn’t be more thankful for The Smith Family and my sponsor for helping me to get where I am today and giving me the chance to make my dream a reality.”

The future looks bright for determined students like Evenezer

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