Smith Family Funding Makes Learning Journey Of Discovery
Illawarra Mercury
Thursday January 31, 2008
THE start of another school year is an exciting time for school students but it is an expensive time for their families.
The Smith Family annually provides financial assistance for about 850 children from Illawarra families to help cover ongoing educational costs. Through its Learning for Life program, students are sponsored by anonymous members of the community who help families cover expenses such as uniforms, shoes, books, excursions and extracurricular activities.Carolynn Brown and her partner Nik know all too well how expensive sending children to school in full uniform, new shoes and with a sturdy backpack can be. The mother of two, who is on a carer's pension, said without the Learning for Life program, her boys simply would not be able to attend school."If it wasn't for them, there is no way I could get the boys back to school each year," she said.The family recently purchased a basic computer for assignment work that will also allow Ryan, 13, and Kayne, 11, to access the internet."We also put the money towards fixing Ryan's bike so he can get to school and to subscribe to Austar for the Discovery Channel," she said."It has been our number one resource tool, and Ryan's teachers were a bit surprised when he started referencing television shows, but there is a lot of really good information to help them."Ms Brown said the Learning for Life program also included a reading recovery program for Kayne and motivational camps to help build students' confidence.If you would like to become a Learning for Life sponsor, call 1800 633 622 or visit www.thesmithfamily.com.au
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury