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UnitingCare NSW.ACT supports many vulnerable or disadvantaged people in our society every day. Here is one story.

Help ‘kit’ kindy kids and allow them to achieve their educational dreams

Each January, tentative but excited 5 year old boys and girls head off to start the new and fascinating world of ‘big school’. They wear brand new crisp white shirts, school shorts or skirts, shiny black leather ‘Clarks’ shoes and carry new back packs filled with personalised pencil cases, pencils, textas, lunch box, drink bottle and school hat…

Well... most of them do anyway... Vulnerable or disadvantaged families often struggle to feed their household, so when it comes to ‘kitting’ kindy kids, unfortunately, it’s down the list of priorities for their funds. The worst part about this is that these ‘un-kitted’ kids are at a disadvantage at school from the start. Their ‘difference’ can mean they won’t ‘fit in’ as easily and may have trouble forming friendships. Without friends, they may slink into silence or they may ‘act up’ for attention, alienating themselves even further from both teachers and peers. Their learning potential can be affected and the cumulative effect of that slowly and surely begins...

Education is powerful for everyone. It’s impact in the lives of disadvantaged children and young people, however, can be crucial. It can be a pathway out of poverty and into a world of choices and opportunities. Children living without the benefit of a supportive family can find getting an education to be really challenging. It’s not because parents don’t want to be supportive, they are just too busy juggling other family demands and an extremely limited household budget. For many, the payment of fees associated with education is impossible.

UnitingCare NSW.ACT helps children and young people re-engage with education through both practical and emotional support. You can make a real difference in young people’s lives by reducing the financial strain of starting and continuing education through the UnitingCare NSW.ACT Burnside’s Youth Education Support and Scholarship Scheme (YESSS). This scheme helps with the cost of books, extra circular activities, electives, accommodation and living expenses, travel and other associated costs.

YES! I would like to help more children achieve their educational dreams