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Reading support helps Aleya get ahead

22 May 2025

When 11-year-old Aleya started missing school because of recurring bronchitis, everything became a little harder.

Being unwell kept her at home more often than most kids, and no matter how hard her mother tried to give her everything she needed, it was tough for Aleya to keep up – especially with reading. To make this harder, the family was also facing financial struggles that added to the pressure.

Then the school reached out to Rebecca about The Smith Family’s reading program student2student. Rebecca knew it could be a great opportunity for Aleya, and Aleya matched her mum’s enthusiasm. “Oh yeah, I’ll give it a shot,” she said with excitement – and wow, what a difference that ‘yes’ made.

The program matched Aleya with an older student who became her reading buddy. With the buddy’s guidance and encouragement, Aleya quickly started to gain confidence in her reading. The student2student digital model enables students to connect using a website called Chatty Kids. Students read eBooks provided on the site and use the Voice over IP function to speak to their Buddy.

As she made progress, Aleya’s love for reading returned. She found herself able to read bigger words that had once seemed impossible. For the first time in a long while, she began to look forward to going to school and felt more motivated to learn.

Now in Year 5, Aleya has made incredible progress.

Thanks to the programs your support makes possible Aleya is seeing her hard work rewarded. Her reading skills have improved greatly, her confidence has soared, and her motivation is stronger than ever. She even hopes to become a reading buddy herself one day to help other students the way she was helped. Rebecca, Aleya’s mum, shared her gratitude for the program.

Without the reading program, I don't think Aleya would be coping at school. She's having some trouble because she's a little behind, but it would be 10 times worse if she didn't have student2student to help her. I think it's helped her get further ahead.

rebecca, aleya's mother

Every parent hopes their child will aim for great things, but for that to happen, children need the right kind of support. Thanks to your generous donations, students like Aleya now have the chance to thrive and achieve their dreams. Your contributions are making a real difference in their lives, and we couldn’t be more grateful for your continued support. Your kindness is helping to change the future for students like Aleya. Thank you for being a Champion!

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Reading support helps Aleya get ahead

When 11-year-old Aleya started missing school because of recurring bronchitis, everything became a little harder.

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