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Disadvantage in Australia
Helping kids in need
There are currently 3.24 million Australians living in poverty, including 774,000 children. That equates to one in every six Australian children. These kids, by definition, lack the bare necessities. This means they skip meals, miss out on school excursions and don’t have access to the same educational opportunities as other children. Yet, poverty is not the only cause of disadvantage among children. Other recognised causes are suffering a disability, coming from an indigenous background, or having to care for a family member.
Unfortunately, disadvantage tends to be passed on from one generation to the next. A major contributing factor here is education. While we are all born with the capacity to learn and achieve, coming from a disadvantaged background can radically affect a child’s future prospects. Research shows that by the time children turn fifteen, those from disadvantaged backgrounds are, on average, three years behind their peers. This problem is now being exacerbated by the increasing use of technology in the classroom. Put simply, children from disadvantaged backgrounds don’t have access to the same IT equipment, sometimes even lacking a reliable internet connection at home. This is causing a ‘digital divide’ between haves and have nots, which makes it increasingly difficult for disadvantaged children to do well at school.
Our Mission
Every child deserves the opportunity to become his or her best self. Often, the lives and future prospects of disadvantaged children can be dramatically improved with a bit of help. Our aim is to ensure that disadvantaged children everywhere can access the resources they need to flourish, in every aspect of their lives. The journey starts right here, in Australia.
Our Values
Inclusivity – No child should feel excluded from their own community. Yet, kids from disadvantaged backgrounds are regularly excluded from school and community life. They don’t have access to the books and IT equipment they need at school, or to the sporting equipment and facilities required to participate in sports. Sadly, disadvantaged kids regularly face discrimination from their peers. We believe that these kids deserve our support and that every effort must be made to include them in all facets of community life. This not only helps disadvantaged children, it’s good for society as a whole.
Community – There’s an African proverb, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. Perhaps more than most, disadvantage children need the support of their communities. Through our work, we aim to engage and educate at both the individual and institutional level, helping drive the change needed to guarantee future generations of disadvantaged kids access to the opportunities they need.
Compassion – Above all, we believe in love. We feel genuine compassion for the children we work with and we are seriously committed to making their lives better, in any way we can.
Sponsor
