Jared's reading improves through student2student

“student2student helped Jared to get motivated,” says Janet, mum of 12-year-old Jared.

Living in an area with high youth unemployment, Jared’s parents know the importance of education. Yet living with a speech impairment had left Jared behind at school. Through student2student Jared gained motivation and improved his reading.

Jared was at risk of falling further behind, so his Learning for Life Coordinator got him involved in our reading program. student2student pairs primary school students with poor reading skills with a trained reading buddy, who they read to over the phone each week for 18 weeks.

Although Jared’s parents supported his education, having a student reading buddy helped Jared in a way that adults couldn’t. Since taking part in student2student, Jared has increased his reading level from age 8.0 to age 9.1.

“Jared's quite self-conscious reading to Michael and me, or aloud. So I think he liked having an older boy take an interest,” says Janet.

“He’d be on the phone with his buddy Rylee and reading for longer than an hour. It was fantastic. Now Jared is more confident. People have even commented that his speech is clearer.”

Reading to an older student they haven’t met gives disadvantaged students the motivation to try.

“Rylee was very good and he helped me when I made mistakes. We would read the book and have a chat about things that the book reminded him of. I enjoyed it,” says Jared.

Jared also receives sponsorship through The Smith Family. When Jared’s dad got sick and his mum had to give up her job to care for him, the family fell on financial hardship. Without sponsorship, Jared would miss out on extra-curricular activities that help him develop important social skills.

“Sponsorship gives him more opportunities. We could only do so much on the pension, so it makes it a lot easier when the kids should be participating in activities like school camps,” says Janet.

With this dual support to help him make the most of school, and the help of our donors and sponsors, Jared is now equipped to take on high school and make the most of his education.