Stories of hope
Every single day, the lives of vulnerable children, adults and families right around the country are being changed thanks to the generosity of incredible people like you.
To show their appreciation, Izach, Channon and Omar want to share their stories with you.
Izach is a member of the Chillax group that aims to equip boys and young men with the skills to manage their anger, increase their social and emotional skills, and improve their behaviour at school. It’s part of Mission Australia’s Circles of Care program in Queensland, which receives no government funding and is made possible thanks to the generosity of people like you.
When Izach was first referred to the program, he was involved in a number of behavioural incidents at his school. Halfway through the program, his mum Jaqueline came to see our staff. She told us: 'He's a completely different kid!’, emphasising the change in his behaviour, manners and treatment of other people.
Having now graduated the program, Izach says he knows how to calm himself down, and is doing much better in class.
This is Channon. She’s a HIPPY mum. Not the regular kind, though. She’s part of our Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY), a two-year school readiness program focusing on parents’ involvement in their children’s education during the crucial early years.
When Channon joined the program with her 4-year-old son, she would meet with a home tutor to discuss the week’s learning activities and complete these activities with her son.
Channon found HIPPY so impactful for herself and her son that she applied to become a home tutor herself. She went on to help 15 other families and has since completed her Certificate IV in Education Support. Channon now runs a Mission Australia playgroup in Ipswich.
Omar became homeless after separating from his long-term partner. Thankfully, he found help at Mission Australia’s Cooma and Region Homelessness Service. We helped Omar access crisis accommodation, and provided ongoing support to assist with his applications for housing and private rentals.
When we first met Omar, he was reserved and quiet and missed his two children. But as we spent more time with him, his personality began to shine brightly. He opened up about his life, culture, family and his love of cooking. As his children meant so much to him, we helped to provide a safe place for Omar to spend time with his children on a part-time basis.
With the right support, Omar was able to regain his independence and focus on his university studies. Today, Omar is excited for the future and has his confidence, his sense of humour and his smile back.
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