VOLUME 1 , ISSUE 1

ASSIST A STUDENT SUPPORTER NEWSLETTER 2008

Dear Supporters, I recently travelled overseas to experience first hand the abject poverty that exists and the work of the Assist a Student program

in trying to overcome it.

My initial observations were of smells, sights and sounds that I had never encountered beyond pictures in papers and vision on television. I’d managed to separate myself from it. The classic ‘out of sight, out of mind’ scenario. Well, here it was, in my face and it really hit home. It is an experience you can never fully prepare for.

Poverty is very real and to experience it first hand was very eye opening. It’s challenging to see people without life’s basic necessities. It’s something we tend to see as a right here in Australia and perhaps take for granted.

In spite of the great physical and practical need, there was immense inner strength, a rugged resilience and a strong devotion to faith.

With so many on or below the poverty line, it’s easy to see how one could feel swallowed up and overwhelmed with the extreme level of poverty that exists here.

Amidst this great need, is real hope. A hope inspired by the kindness and spirit of our fellow St Vincent de Paul Society volunteers. Burdened with the enormity of need, our local volunteers continue to serve with great love. Whilst funds are limited, they give what they can. They continue to give of themselves.

Seventy dollars in Australia can buy us a shirt, pants or a concert ticket. But for our assisted students, it provides the opportunity to break through the cycle of poverty.

One of the greatest gifts we can provide is education. Arming young people with knowledge, skills and choice is a powerful gift. It’s a gift that keeps on giving for the rest of their lives – and that is priceless.

During my travels I met many Assist a Student beneficiaries . A resounding response was a profound appreciation for the generosity of Australian donors.

As an Australian St Vincent de Paul volunteer and fellow

donor, I was proud of the valuable support that we are making in the lives of people we will never meet and whose stories we may never hear.

In a small rural village we met a young man who had been supported from high school to university. Aban-doned by his father, his mother worked extremely hard to provide for the family, though they just could not make ends meet. Through the Assist a Student program, he is now in his second year of university studying business. He also works the rice patties that surround the entire village to provide for the family. When he graduates, he will have qualifications for a good job that will secure a future for himself and his family.

Despite only visiting for a short while, the family wel-comed us with open arms. They expressed unreserved gratitude and respect to those that have extended the hand of generosity from so far.

What is certain is that our journey continues still. It was a unanimous feeling amongst my fellow travellers that we were filled with a renewed enthusiasm for the St Vincent de Paul Society and its works.

Experiencing the legacy of Assist a Student first hand was moving and reinforced in me the immense value of this program. I could not convey the appreciation of the beneficiaries better than the students themselves who extend to you all a heartfelt, “Thank you.” It is a simple gesture but I hope you will feel the love, grace and sin-cerity to which it was ex-tended to me on your behalf.

Alicia Webster, Broken Bay Youth Repre-sentative

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA. ABN: 68 879 107 149. WEBSITE: WWW.VINNIES.ORG.AU

Assist a Student Beneficiaries at home in their village

Assist a Student Beneficiaries looking at their new school books

Alicia (far right) with Assist a Student Beneficiaries

EDITOR’S NOTE: For most of the students assisted by

this program, English is their second language. These

letters have been left in the writer’s English to show

the effort each writer has made to convey their thanks

to all who support this program.

Thank you · Khop Khun Mak · Shukriya · Jae Zu Din Da De · Danyavad

My name is Mehris, I am 18 years old.

I’m from Pakistan. I’ve been studying here

for ten years and I am very grateful that you

have supported me for ten years.

Now I am join-

ing college. I hope

you will continue to

support me at col-

lege also.

I am very

thankful to you.

Thank you so much.

Mehris.

I am very thankful because I was given the opportu-nity to continue my studies at the university.

I hope this kind of assistance can be given to other brothers and sisters who are not been able to con-tinue their study.

May the Lord bless you. Albertus, Indonesia

F u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t A s s i s t a S t u d e n t c a n b e f o u n d a t : W W W . V I N N I E S . O R G . A U

Dear Supporter,

I am studying accounting at university. My

parents work at the sugar factory. I would

like to thank my supporters in Australia. I

hope that the Assist a Student will continue

in the future to help other students who are

not able to continue their study.

The Assist a Student helped me to buy books

for my study. On behalf of other students, I

would like to thank the St Vincent de Paul

Society for their kind assistance. May God

always bless all supporters in Australia.

Erni, Myanmar

My name is Premkumar and I am 9 years

old. I live in India. My father died when I

was two years old. Since then, my mother, me and my three brothers and

sisters have been helped by St Vincent de Paul. Our family is adopted by them. We

are very grateful.

My mother works as a maid. I like to go

to the Church. The St Vincent de Paul people are there.

Thank you for helping me to go to school. I love my school and going there. I study

English and many other things.

Where we assist students

Distribution of funds 2007 In the past 12 months a record 4,685 students were assisted. Your donations were distributed as follows:

Tangeyoo

Terima kasih · Ko rabwa · Salamat · Mehrbani · Sulang · Bhala Hove

My name is Emma-Lyn and I am 11. I live on an island in the Philippines where we fish a lot. I have to catch a boat to go to school. Thank you for the good help you give me to go to school. One day I would like to be a scien-tist. Thank you for help-ing me to go to school.

I am happy at my school

and I have a lot of

friends. All of my friends

are Catholic. The teach-

ers are very good. I re-

ceive the Assist a Student

program and I am very

thankful. I don’t know

what would happen to me

without your help. Gods

blessings for you.

Lucia, East Timor 12

Dear kind donors,

I am Nittaya, aged 14. I am living with my Grandfa-ther. My parents all died from Aids since I was in Grade 2 (now I am in Secondary level 2, when my parents died I was 8 years of age). My Grand-mother also died very recently from Diabetes and Renal Failure when I finished my Secondary level 1. My only lovely Grandfather is the only one who is everything to me. He gives me strength and takes care of me. But now, he is lying in bed without knowing the cause of the illness.

I would like to thank you from the St Vincent de Paul Society for the chance that you have given to me. I can promise you that I will carefully spend every baht and satangs with utmost care. I will no longer have anything to write further, only a big thank you. And I hope that you will be kind to me and to Thai students in need in the future. May all the people that you meet love you always. May you be filled with joy and happiness all along.

With high respectfully yours, Nittaya, Thailand

Even I earned money by working as a mazdoor dur-ing the weekly holi-days, I couldn’t pay fees to the college. Your timely help is turned my life and study further. Thanking you for the help extended to me. Anto, India 14

$70 $140 $210 OR $ ____________

My cheque is enclosed, payable to “St Vincent de Paul Society” or

Debit my credit card: Mastercard Visa Expiry __ / __

Name on card: _______________________________________

Signature: __________________________________________

Thank you for your support. Donations over $2.00 are tax deductible. You will receive a receipt, certificate of appreciation and an annual newsletter for your generosity.

I am an individual assisting a student; OR I am assisting a student on behalf of a group

Name (of Group or individual): _______________________

Contact name (for Group): __________________________

Contact phone Number: ____________________________

Address: ________________________________________

Suburb: ______________ State: _____ Postcode: _______

Email: __________________________________________

Yes, I want to Assist a Student today

Contac t i n fo rma t i on fo r y our S ta te o r Te r r i t o ry c an be f ound a t : W W W . V I N N I E S . O R G . A U

Dear Donor,

Before anything else,

I would like to greet you

a happy and pleasant

day. I hope you are in

good condition. I have

been studying very hard

and school is quite diffi-

cult now because I’m in

grade 6 and am a

graduating student.

There are so many pro-

jects, examinations and

activities but it is okay,

it is part of my studies.

Thank you every day

for your support.

Farna

Papua New Guinea

At present, many students are not able to continue onto College as the fees are well above the funds supplied with an Assist a Student scholarship. The Society is looking at ways to provide special College scholarships allocated to the brightest of these students.

Recent visits to Assist a Student beneficiaries

Story 1: In this family the father died suddenly leaving his wife with two children and the added responsibility of caring for his mother and her mother. The eldest child has gone to Jakarta for work. The mother gains sea-sonal work in a 3 month period annually. During this time she receives only two week’s work at 13,000 ru-pees a day ($2). The St Vincent De Paul Society sup-ports the family. The younger son has just completed senior high school. He dreams of going to University but the need of the family will force him to find work.

Story 2: A mother works as a servant to a wealthy fam-ily. She receives a very small wage for this work ($4.60 per month). Thirteen years ago her husband received an injury and is a paraplegic. He is completely dependant on the family, lying down most of the time as they can-not afford a wheelchair. The St Vincent de Paul Society has helped renovate the house as well as meeting medi-cal expenses. The youngest boy who was 3 months old when his father was injured is in Grade 8 and benefits from the Assist a Student Program. Their eldest son died suddenly and a daughter who has graduated from Senior High School is looking for work.

Br Doug Walsh, National Projects Officer

Indonesia consists of 17,508 islands with only about 6,000 being inhabited. The five largest islands are Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, New Guinea and Sulawesi. Indonesia shares land borders with Ma-laysia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Singapore, Philippines and Australia. Indonesia’s size, tropical climate and geography support the world’s second highest level of biodiversity. It’s flora and fauna is a mixture of Asian and Australasian species.

Social Issues

Indonesia's history has been turbulent, with challenges posed by natural disasters, like the recent earthquake in Yogyakarta, separatism, a democratization process, and periods of rapid economic change.

How does the St Vincent de Paul Society operate in

Indonesia through Assist a Student?

Aim: To assist students who are not able to support themselves in education. Helping them to achieve a brighter future so they can obtain work and assist their family. The top priority is towards the very poor families and for those students that show the potential to benefit from the program. In addition to the overseas donations, money is also raised from local volunteers of the Society.

The main focus is Junior Secondary School (Yr 7 – 9) and High School (Yr.10 and 12). While 90% of young people are enrolled in primary education, only 60% con-tinue onto Junior Secondary education.

The scholarship money is given out by Society volunteers at various times throughout the year. This is to ensure that the student’s education needs are met as the school year proceeds. The money is given to the school on the parents’ behalf. In the year that has just concluded 152 Primary students, 152 Secondary students and 289 High School students were assisted.

How is the scholarship money used? The money enables students to continue their education or training for one year. It is spent on supporting school or course fees, uniforms, books and materials.

I would like to support a girl, is that possible? To maintain low administration costs of the program students are randomly matched with donors. It is not possible to allocate preferences.

Why does it take time to receive the certificate? Sometimes, for many varied reasons, it takes longer than expected for the Society in Australia to receive the student names from the overseas country and this may delay the production and distribution of certificates.

Further information is available at www.vinnies.org.au

Can we choose the student we assist? The students supported are chosen by the St Vincent de Paul Society of our partner countries. We do not interfere with that process. Scholarships are allocated according to needs across the countries to ensure a fair allocation of the funds.

Can we choose the country of the student? We distribute scholarships as fairly as possible between the partner countries. They are distributed according to the need and waiting lists.

Are there administration costs? One of the program’s strong-est and most attractive goals is that administration costs are kept to an absolute minimum to ensure nothing is deducted from each $70 donation. Therefore, the program is kept as simple as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Indonesia at a glance …

Population (thousands) 222,781

Life expectancy at birth (years) 68

Total adult literacy rate 90%

Annual No. of under 5 deaths (thousands) 162

Infant mortality rate (under 1) 28%

These are 2004/05 statistics from the Unicef website

Focus on Indonesia

Br Doug Walsh with Assist a Student Beneficiaries in Indonesia