Ids doesn’t want students to miss out

For years, Ids has been supporting disadvantaged students as a sponsor. When he retired, he started volunteering to help deliver our learning programs. And he’s making a great impact!

Q. Why did you start supporting The Smith Family?
A. I think it is terrible if kids don’t have opportunities. I have been very lucky. I was a teacher earlier in my career, so education is very important to me. After that I was a civil engineer. I hope that all these kids can get jobs that they will find just as satisfying.

Q. What do you do as a Learning Club tutor?
A. The children ask me to help them with their maths homework. I like them to try to do it themselves first, but then I show them how it can be done in the easiest way possible. And you see the next week that they do it themselves. If you can just give them a bit of attention, that’s all they need sometimes.

Q. What do you do as an iTrack mentor?
A. It’s a program for older students who are starting to think about what they might like to do in life after school. Some have an idea of what they want to do, others don’t. As a mentor, I try to encourage them to think about other options in case they can’t get their first option. We discuss what subjects they should do in their last years of school. And it can include helping them prepare for interviews. I enjoy the interaction and seeing them grow.

We’re so grateful to volunteers like Ids. Combined with the support from generous supporters like you, it’s how we achieve great results for students in need.