The Smith Family Winter Appeal

Even though Australia is currently facing a recession, for one in seven Australian kids, economic hardship is all they've ever known. This winter, without finances for basic items like books, school bags and warm winter uniforms, disadvantaged children continue to struggle with their education and can end up falling behind their peers, or leave school altogether. And with 150 calls made each week to The Smith Family from families desperate for assistance, there is an increasing need to sponsor a child this winter to help ease disadvantage at home and at school.

What is The Smith Family sponsor child program?

Help break the cycle disadvantage by choosing to Sponsor a Child through The Smith Family's Learning for Life program during our Winter Appeal. It's more than a financial leg-up for the sponsor child. Through your generous support, you can:

· Provide access to much needed education and learning support and mentoring programs; · Boost much-needed self-confidence so a sponsor child can participate in social activities; · Provide them with basic necessities like textbooks, excursion money and uniforms; · Improve a sponsor child's interest in education, which research shows is one of the best ways to prevent the cycle of disadvantage from continuing into adult life.

Through generous sponsors, The Smith Family's Learning for Life sponsor child program helps disadvantaged young Australians get through vulnerable transition points in their development, such as moving from home to school or from school to tertiary education or workforce entry. The sponsor child will participate in Learning for Life, a program that is supporting more than 27,000 students in 95 communities. Many of these sponsored children will go on to complete tertiary studies so they can stop the cycle of disadvantage and ensure that they and their own children will have a brighter future. A sponsor child can range from those in primary and high school or in tertiary education. The sponsor child will usually leave the program when they have completed their tertiary education, provided they remain committed to the partnership.

How can I sponsor a child?

Signing up to the Learning for Life program opens up many opportunities for a sponsor child. You will directly contribute to their school-related expenses like uniforms and books, as well as a Learning for Life professional who facilitates homework clubs, tutoring, reading and literacy programs, camps and social activities for the sponsor child.

Change a young life and sponsor a child today. Head to www.thesmithfamily.com.au to fill out a simple online donation and sponsorship form to begin the process, or contact The Smith Family to discuss ways you can help sponsor a child.

This article was brought to you by The Smith Family - Sponsor a child for The Smith Family winter Appeal The Smith Family is an independent non-profit organisation committed to helping disadvantaged Australian children by unlocking opportunities through education and learning. For more information, visit www.thesmithfamily.com.au