It's street charity

Media coverage - Moonee Valley Leader, 29 August 2011
A girl has spent her 12th birthday sleeping on the street in Essendon, all in the name of charity.

Tahlia, of Derrimut, hosted a winter sleepout outside an Essendon taekwondo centre on August 20 to help raise funds for the homeless. Instead of cake and candles , she asked her friends to donate to Mission Australia, raising $465.

“My invitations weren’t the average 12-year-old birthday invites,’’ she said.

Instead it was a flier raising awareness about homelessness. I didn’t ask for any gifts. I just wanted everybody to help.”

Mission Australia runs more than 450 programs to reduce homelessness, assist families and children, support disadvantaged young people and help find jobs.

More than 20 friends took part.

“It’s easy to collect money and donate to charity,” Tahlia said. “I wanted to actually feel it and a birthday was a good opportunity.” Tahlia’s mother Leanne Georgievski said her daughter had a personal experience with homelessness.

“We’ve been touched by homelessness too long ago. Tahlia’s uncle became homeless and it struck a cord with her.”

To support Tahlia’s efforts visit everydayhero.com.au/tahlia_georgievski

This article was originally posted in the Moonee Valley Leader on 29 August 2011.

Above image: Tahlia with friends