By JESSE GRAHAM
FIRE-affected families will receive a helping hand from a new scholarship program, which aims to ease school-related financial tension on children and families.
Variety CEO Holly Reid visited Chum Creek Primary School on Monday 3 February to launch VICKIDS, a new scholarship program that assists children impacted by natural disasters.
The scholarship program, which involves community members anonymously donating money to local schools or children, will benefit four children at Chum Creek who were affected by Black Saturday, five years ago.
Mr Corr said the program, which helps families to purchase school equipment, or put money towards excursions and activities, could not have come at a better time.
“The kids that we’ve chosen, who were affected by the fires, lost homes,” he said.
“This will make a huge difference.
“Hopefully, if it continues, it will be great for other kids in the future, too.”
Chum Creek Primary School students Declan, Harrison, Isaac and Annie will be the first to benefit from the scholarship program.
Through VICKIDS, schools elect children or families whom they know have been affected by a natural disaster or other event, and nominate them for funding through Variety.
Ms Reid said one of the important aspects to the program was local people contributing to schools and students in their area – though details of whom they are donating to are kept confidential.
She said there was a trajectory for disaster-affected children, who go from being a victim, to a survivor, to an active citizen, but that it was important to acknowledge that trauma was not temporary.
“It’s important to realise that trauma is not just ‘here one day, gone the next’ – it’s conditioned,” she said.
“You live with it and you try to get over it.”
Ms Reid said that six students at Toolangi Primary school would also be part of the VICKIDS rollout, though other bushfire-affected towns, such as Marysville, would not be in the first stages.
For more information on the program, visit www.variety.org.au.
