Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
View all programs After fleeing war, a sponsor helped Sarive triumph
08 September 2021
After fleeing war in the Congo and five years in a refugee camp, Sarive’s family settled in Australia. They struggled to build a new life. School was hard for Sarive. “Learning English was a battle,” she recalls. “My parents could not support my learning. They’d made great sacrifices to get us here, but never went to school themselves.”
In high school, Sarive met Smith Family Learning for Life Coordinator George and discovered she was eligible for sponsorship. George kept track of Sarive’s progress in school and would often ask if she needed any additional help. Thanks to sponsorship, Sarive could buy stationery and textbooks like her classmates and go on excursions. She was also eligible for a laptop through our Digitial Access program - available through our Suncorp partnership. It helped her catch up and keep up in the technology-rich environment. “Since then, I’ve never felt left out due to a lack of resources,” she says. “I’ve been able to strive and thrive.”
Throughout high school, coordinator George also encouraged Sarive to participate in other Smith Family learning programs. “George has supported me to fully participate in my education and take on opportunities,” Sarive says. “He has been a source of success in my education. We continue to have a strong and positive relationship.” A highlight of this wrap-around support has been the iTrack mentoring program, which helped Sarive build skills and confidence for her future. “My mentor helped me develop a resume and talked about career paths,” says Sarive.
“They opened my eyes to uni courses I hadn’t considered.”
Today Sarive is a well-spoken, driven young woman. After the early escape from war, she is grateful for the freedom to choose her path in life. Sarive has started a double degree in psychology and criminology. She has exciting plans for a career in social justice. “From a young age, I’ve felt immense gratitude at the prospect of attending university,” she says.
“The desire to study this course came naturally, considering my background is one of crime, war and xenophobia.”
With so much study ahead, it is more important than ever to be digitally connected. In the past, when Sarive’s parents had to prioritise other bills, the internet would get cut off. Sarive had to go to public places to access free Wi Fi to study. This uncertainty was always stressful. “My parents struggling to pay off internet bills has made it hard for me to keep on top of my work,” she says. Now, thanks to supporters like you, Sarive has internet access, a device and tech support. “I can now finish assignments without stressing the internet will be gone soon,” she says.
Having come so far, Sarive says the ongoing generosity of her sponsor motivates her to focus on her education when things get tough. “I would not be where I am today without my mentor and my sponsor – they have opened so many doors. They’ve helped me strive to achieve my potential.”
Read more student and family stories in our Spring 2021 edition of Real People, Real Stories.
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