Blayney District VIEW Club is calling on the community to help end poverty one student at a time, by sponsoring an Australian child through The Smith Family children’s education charity.
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Two disadvantaged students are sponsored by Blayney VIEW Club through The Smith Family’s Learning for Life sponsorship program – which provides long-term targeted educational support for Australian children in need. Blayney VIEW Club President Sue Townsend says whilst their club is making a difference to the lives of these students, the need is so much greater.
“Right now, one in seven children and young people are living below the poverty in line in Australia,” said Sue.
“The effects of poverty go beyond a child’s home life, affecting their schooling. When a child doesn’t have the basics they need for school they can feel different and isolated – and students can become disengaged over time and at risk of dropping out of school early or altogether.
The Smith Family’s sponsorship program supports a child throughout their education journey – starting in primary through to secondary and onto tertiary studies. The program provides disadvantaged students with financial support for education essentials, access to out-of-school learning programs and support from a local Smith Family worker.
Our Club regularly communicates with our sponsored students, writing letters, sending birthday cards and we receive regular updates on students’ school progress.
Over the twenty years during which the Blayney club has been sponsoring students, we’ve had some wonderful feedback from students and their families and at times we’ve felt that we know the students extremely well, despite the fact that sponsored students always remain anonymous.
We’ve had lovely and often entertaining letters from students, sharing their latest news and achievements with us and always acknowledging the difference our sponsorship makes to their lives.
Throughout the year we support the work of The Smith Family and we would love for the Blayney community to join us and lend their support to sponsor a child. Individuals and local businesses are able to sponsor a child and it costs just $1.60 per day. The Smith Family has identified more than 4,000 children who are urgently in need of a sponsor.
VIEW stands for the Voice, Interests and Education of Women. It is one of Australia’s leading women’s volunteer organisations and supports the education of disadvantaged children through The Smith Family. Collectively VIEW is The Smith Family’s largest community sponsor, supporting over 1,200 students nationally. Visit thesmithfamily.com.au.