STEPHANIE Malcolm is proud to be part of what she calls a “Smith Family success story”.
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More than a decade ago, after a 16-year marriage, Mrs Malcolm became a single mother to her children Rochelle Stolk, then nine, and Jackson Stolk, then six.
The Albion Park mother and her children became involved with The Smith Family’s ‘Learning for Life’ program in 2007.
“I have always been a working Mum in a very rewarding career as an early childhood educator,” Mrs Malcolm, 51, said.
“Although this career can be very rewarding and challenging, unfortunately it is very lowly paid.”
Mrs Malcolm said The Smith Family’s sponsorship program had been “life-changing”.
“I am extremely grateful for the financial assistance that we have received from the children’s sponsors,” she said.
“This support helped immensely with school expenses for Rochelle and Jackson.
“The assistance was used for school uniforms and books, as well as excursions I may not have been able to afford.”
Mrs Malcolm said The Smith Family's initatives such as their student2student reading program had been of great help, and the organisation had helped her children to pursue sporting and artistic aspirations.
“I also had the opportunity to participate in the Savers Plus Program, a four-week financial guidance workshop that assisted with money management and savings advice,” Mrs Malcolm said.
Their sponsorship ran from 2007 until about 18 months ago; Mrs Malcolm remarried and “my financial circumstances changed”.
Jackson, now 18, has a landscape construction apprenticeship.
His sister, now 21, works and is also undertaking a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) at university.
Her eventual goal is to work as a paediatric psychologist.
“I can’t be any prouder of them,” Mrs Malcolm told the Mercury.
“I look at how far we’ve come... It hasn't always been great, as I have had some really tough times too.
“It’s been a tough journey at times, but I’m proud of where I'm at, where the children are at, and The Smith Family has really helped us all.”
Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of Australians say children’s education costs are unaffordable for many families, according to a new survey commissioned by The Smith Family.
As a new school year begins, The Smith Family is asking the community to consider sponsoring an Illawarra child in need to help with the cost of school essentials and out-of-school learning support.
“We commonly hear from our sponsored students what a difference it makes to their lives knowing someone out there in the community cares enough to support their education,” The Smith Family CEO Dr Lisa O’Brien said.
Children sponsored through The Smith Family are helped in three ways: financial assistance for education essentials, including uniforms, books and excursions; targeted personal support from a Smith Family coordinator; and access to a range of out-of-school learning and mentoring programs, such as the student2student reading program and after-school Learning Clubs.
To sponsor a child and support their education, visit the thesmithfamily.com.au/sponsor website.
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
