In Boroondara there are approximately 7,000 people living below the poverty line. It is essential that their children be given every opportunity to maximize their potential and escape the poverty cycle.
Education provides a clear path to personal success, however these students encounter significant “headwinds “ in Boroondara.
Boroondara is an affluent suburb. If you are an underprivileged child attending school in Boroondara, the social divide between affluent and underprivileged is clearly visible. It is easy for children from underprivileged homes to perceive themselves as “ second class” and this attitude leads to under-achievement and a descending spiral of disengagement from the education system.
CHANCES Scholarship Program
The CHANCES Scholarship program aims to:
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Identify talented and motivated students who need our support
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Provide them with financial support to facilitate their studies and school experience
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Provide them with a sense of achievement, which elevates their self-esteem and inspires them to maximise their skills. (CHANCES is a “Hand Up , not a Hand out)
The CHANCES Program reached its 10th anniversary in 2017 and has an outstanding success record at keeping children in school through secondary and tertiary education. We have awarded over 900 scholarships, and 99% of our recipients have completed a degree or vocational qualification.
Today we provide nearly 100 scholarships to students, and we could assist many more if funds weren’t limited.
In a 2017 study by independent consultants “Think Impact”, it was determined that for every $1 invested in students, more than $13 of social and economic benefit was derived. This benefit was delivered to the students, their family and the wider community.
You can read more about the study HERE
It is hard to see a better social investment than CHANCES.
Applications for next year are now available through the link below
Application Forms
The CHANCES program is reliant on the goodwill of its supporters. There is no government support available to “Affluent Boroondara”. This is disappointing as a child in need is a child in need anywhere and this is not determined by geographical boundaries.
We have had good support from philanthropic organisations in the past, but this is an unreliable source of income and increasingly harder to obtain.
It is therefore, it is up to our community and our supporters to ensure the future of this program.
If you can assist us with this program please contact us +61 385956721 or make a donation through the following link Donate Now
Swinburne University -Tertiary Aspiration Program
