Counting 30 Years of Helping Students Succeed
This year, Manildra Foundation and The Smith Family are celebrating three decades working together to help young Australians in need to succeed at school.
“We started supporting The Smith Family in 1990, because of the power of education to break the cycle of poverty and empower young Australians to create better futures for themselves,” said Manildra Group Director Caroline Honan.
“The Smith Family has an ambitious goal by 2022 to increase by 30 per cent the number of young Australians they reach with effective, evidence-based programs, and we want to do more to help them achieve this.”
In NSW, Manildra Foundation sponsors 75 students on The Smith Family’s flagship Learning for Life program in Bathurst, Coffs Harbour, Orange, Dubbo, Lithgow, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga.
Ms Honan described the program’s three-pronged approach as innovative. “Each student is provided with a combination of financial support for school essentials such as uniforms and textbooks, vital learning and mentoring programs, and personal support for the family and child,” Ms Honan said.
The Smith Family CEO Lisa O’Brien said 1.1 million children and young people lived in poverty in Australia. “The disadvantage they experience not only impacts their life at home, it also adversely affects their education,” Dr O’Brien said.
“Children from families experiencing financial disadvantage can fall behind in learning and be marginalised for the rest of their lives.
“We are so grateful for Manildra Foundation’s contribution over almost 30 years. They have made a significant difference to the lives of many Australian children, allowing them to realise their true potential.”
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