THE Wallaga Lake Study Centre, a program of the Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust, promotes healthy development, socially and academically, and allows Aboriginal children to become confident and proud youngsters who can look forward to completing their schooling with academic success.
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This leads to better employment opportunities when leaving school and offers students exciting futures.
However, this Study Centre which has a proven record for greatly improved school attendance and enhanced literacy and numeracy skills, has been unable to re-open this year due to cuts and delays with funding.
Sister Laurel Lloyd-Jones, founder and advisor to the Board of the charity Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust, is very concerned that children are missing out on this valuable resource.
“The Wallaga Lake Study Centre provides help from trained volunteers teachers, and the important resources necessary which enables students to complete home and course work set by their schools,” she said.
“This after-school program is highly supported by all the schools who have children from both primary and secondary schools attending and feedback shows attendance rates and suspension days lost are both dramatically improved with children accessing the Study Centre.”
The Trust is are appealing to the public, local businesses and service clubs for donations to ensure the re-opening of the Wallaga Lake Study Centre very soon as this closure is seriously impacting on local indigenous children.
All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible and will be receipted. A direct deposit into this program is available: EGS Trust Project A/c BSB 032766 Account No: 139061 Please indicate that funds are for Wallaga Lake Study Centre and email egs2emma@dragnet.com.au with your contact details for receipting purposes.
School attendance crucial
Results have shown greatly enhanced school attendance averaging 92 per cent.
Homework completion rate before was 20 per cent and since Study Centre 70 per cent, with reduced days lost through suspension as acknowledged by the five schools where the children attend.
In addition to caring support and assistance with academic work the Study Centre offers creative arts and crafts and an after-school healthy food snack.
Presently the Study Centre is closed due to lack of funding despite the great outcomes that have resulted from children attending this highly successful and invaluable program.
Sister Laurel said; “It is urgent that the Study Centre re-open as many of the children lack much needed resources in their homes such as computers, resource material and the help of trained volunteer teaching staff to confidently complete their homework
“To quote one parent who shared his support for the Study Centre: ‘I am not sure if you understand the frustration that goes with very little or no education. Just trying to write a letter – lots of indigenous people my age (50's) have little to no writing skills so we struggle to help our own children understand school - just reading notes from school is hard for some people...the Study Centre fills this gap for us and helps our children where we cannot.’
Through programs offered by the Police Citizen's Youth Club (PCYC) at the Study Centre, children have opportunities to engage in sporting activities and youth development programs which encourage good relationships and healthy physical outcomes.
“We also hold great hope for expanding the scope for the Study Centre into the future with projects which will further nurture the children's pride in their Aboriginal heritage and culture,” Sister Laurel said. “Opportunities include, for example, teaching the children about film-making enabling them to tell their own stories so that they can develop this further by interviewing the elders in their community ensuring that these stories are documented and kept as an historical record for future generations.
“We hope that you can catch hold of this vision and share with us the wonderful things that are possible for the future of the Study Centre - however for now the need is urgent – we need funds to re-open the Study Centre for this school year and to cover the costs of a wage for the co-ordinator, public liability insurance, rental of premises, and resources and materials.
“One of our Trust's directors, Kerri Binstock provides her caring skills as a volunteer teacher at the Study Centre and has done so for several years.
“Another great volunteer teacher, Sue Liddy, has generously worked with the children ever since the Study Centre was opened and the kids keep asking 'when will Study Centre be opening'?”
“Elm Grove charity is working hard to obtain grants for the Study Centre. However even if we are successful these funds will not be available until later in 2015.
“Therefore we are appealing to the public, local businesses and service clubs for donations and we hold great hope that with the caring support of our wider community we can ensure the re-opening of the Wallaga Lake Study Centre very soon as this closure is seriously impacting on our local indigenous children.
“We need to seriously 'bridge this gap' – can you please assist us to do this by offering a grant or donation so that the Study Centre can re-open in the near future and make this little miracle a reality for these lovely children?”
All donations tax deductible
All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible and will be receipted. A direct deposit into this program is available: EGS Trust Project A/c BSB 032766 Account No: 139061 Please indicate that funds are for Wallaga Lake Study Centre and email us at egs2emma@dragnet.com.au with your contact details for receipting purposes
OR you can mail a cheque to: Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust Project A/c – 2 Emma Close Dalmeny NSW 2546 indicating (Wallaga Lake Study Centre Program) and remembering your name and address for receipting.
Also Stan Gorton, has most kindly offered to accept cash donations at their Narooma News office towards this appeal and for those wishing to have a receipt please attach your details.
Sister Laurel said, “The Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust was founded in 1983 and seeks to improve the quality of life for all people free from discrimination due to race, creed or social background. Working in areas of support with individuals and communities through education, social justice, human rights and especially focusing on children and youth, it encourages a responsible approach to education, health and our environment. We are strongly committed to our nation's First People and the need to 'close the gap' that presently exists. Members are those who share these ideals and who seek to promote them.”
