Sean’s children are getting opportunities he missed out on

Emelia puts her book into her schoolbag. She can’t wait to find out what happens next. For a long time, Emelia carried books with her but never finished them. Then she completed our 18-week student2student reading program. Reading over the phone two to three times a week with an older student buddy gave Emelia the confidence she needed. And it’s just one way our programs have helped Emelia and her family.

“I didn’t used to read out loud. So at the start of student2student, I was uncomfortable. I couldn't say half the words right. But my reading buddy was very helpful – very kind and encouraging,” said Emelia.

“I’ve read eight books since the program. I love ‘Dork Diaries’. It’s about this girl, MacKenzie. I like that she stands up for what she believes in. The best part of student2student was getting to read the books I wanted to and meeting someone new.”

Families living in poverty face many challenges. Often it means parents aren’t able to give their children the learning support they need at home. Thanks to our generous supporters and her reading buddy, students like Emelia can catch up.

Last year, 90% of students agreed student2student made it easier to do their schoolwork. Emelia’s dad, Sean, is delighted to see that Emelia is now flourishing all round.

“We’re a big family, so getting quiet reading time doesn’t go too well. The program took what I couldn’t do and put it into someone else’s hands. It was good for Emelia to have space and be able to focus. And it was successful!” said Sean.

“It feels really good to see Emelia actually light up and enjoy books. She got heaps better at reading. It's helping her in all her subjects and even her confidence.”

Sean has also been able to benefit from our programs. When families can barely make ends meet, budgeting can seem impossible. Saver Plus¹ is a 10-month program that teaches money management skills and financial confidence. After taking part, Sean feels better equipped to provide for his family.

“Saver Plus helped us understand how often we’re spending our money, so we can catch ourselves. We talked about the strength in putting away a fixed amount over a period of time. I saw that small steps are significant in terms of saving money and bringing good things into your life. It was really good,” he said.

Sean is determined to make sure his children have more opportunities than he did. And he believes our ongoing program support is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.

“I went to about 26 different schools and left early. I struggle with my self-worth. I've come to understand just how important it is in a child’s education to have stability, consistency and a framework that says, ‘You're worth something, keep going,’” he said.

“I really want my children to have opportunities. I would like Smith Family supporters to know that their help gives me the courage to hope for my children. Seeing programs like these, and the amount of time and effort that goes into them, is extremely humbling.”

_{1. Saver Plus is an initiative of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and ANZ, delivered in partnership with The Smith Family, Berry Street, The Benevolent Society and other local community agencies. The program is funded by ANZ and the Australian Government, with ANZ providing matched savings for participants.}