The Langports Foundation has had a busy start to 2018, and several initiatives are ongoing. We are happy to take this opportunity to share these with you.
Yalari
We continue to sponsor the education of two indigenous children, Nora and Jordan, through our project partner – Yalari. Nora is from the Bundajalung tribe and native to Grafton. Now in her 3rd year studying at St Hilda’s School, Southport. She’s in Year 10 and a very active member of the school community. She also belongs to a Surf Life Saving club and helps to keep the Gold Coast beaches safe. Jordan has just finished his first term at Sydney Church of England Grammar School. He is native of Pilliga, NSW and a member of the Kamilarai and Wiradjuri tribes. At the moment, Jordan’s plans are to join the Australian Army. Last month Waverley Stanley, the founder of Yalari and close friend of our Chairman, John France, visited Langports Sydney to give our staff and students a personal insight into his vision for the future for Indigenous Australians – the First Australians. This was an amazing experience and enjoyed by everybody. Website: www.yalari.org
Cherbourg State School
Every six months The Langports Foundation takes a group of students to visit Cherbourg, an Aboriginal Community, 200 kms north of Brisbane. As well as visiting several historical sites and having a chance to explore the art and culture, they get the chance to hear the history directly from Aboriginal Elders. A visit to Cherbourg State School is a highlight. The Langports Foundation has been working with the staff and teachers for a number of years on programs to encourage student attendance. Susie France took some lucky Gold Coast students made the visit last time and it’s Brisbane’s turn this week. This time they will present the teachers a set of chairs for the school library.
Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation
This year The Langports Foundation is sponsoring the education of 10 children from the Blue Dragon centre in Hanoi, as well as paying the salary of a teacher in one of their country schools.
Michael Brosowski, the Founder of Blue Dragon popped into our Sydney school to make a presentation to our students and to have lunch with our teachers. Michael’s work now extends to the rescue of children and young adults that have been kidnapped and sold into forced labour. Website: www.bluedragon.org
SAYL Scholarship
Study Abroad a Year at Langports (SAYL) is a special Langports Foundation project that brings disadvantaged youths into the lives of our culturally diverse community of international students for a year of growth and development. By studying at Langports and living in Australia for a year, we aspire to give an education and a life changing opportunity that would not normally be obtainable to a young person from a poor and disadvantaged background.
Trong
Trong was the first recipient of the SAYL scholarship and he graduated from Langports Sydney in January 2018. Trong was 4 years old when his mother died old and his father abandoned him. After living with his poor Aunty and her 4 children in the country, Trong could see that he had to go to the city to survive. He became a street kid in Hanoi and would do any menial job he needed to do to survive. Found sleeping on a bridge over the Red River, he was taken in by Blue Dragon when he was 11 years old.
Blue Dragon fed, clothed and gave him a place to sleep, then encouraged him to finish his high school. He gained the SAYL scholarship and became a very popular member of the student population in Langports Sydney. He is now back in Vietnam and is planning to go to study to become a social worker and work for Blue Dragon. Since Trong has been home, already some of his international friends have visited him.
Tai
Tai our second SAYL scholarship recipient is currently studying in Langports Brisbane. His father was sent to jail when he was young for extortion and then his mother was forced to sell heroin on the streets before she too was jailed. Tai and his three siblings were put in an orphanage where they were abused, before being rescued by Blue Dragon. Tai worked in a bar all night, so he could look after his siblings and went to school in the daytime, where with the encouragement of Blue Dragon, he managed to finish high school. Tai came to Brisbane in February and has already making the most of his opportunity at Langports. He has already progressed to our PET classes and made so many friends. He stays with an Australian family in Home Stay, but often is found on activities with his friends or at the Madhouse Dance Studio, where he pursues his love of dancing. He also represented his school in Touch Rugby at the Langports Games.
Tai made a presentation to some of his sponsors last week to show them what his life was like in Vietnam and to thank them for making a contribution to his program.
Friends of the Langports Foundation
I would personally like to thank all those friends who are supporting The Langports Foundation by making donations of money or in kind. Without your support we wouldn’t be able to reach out to as many wonderful children and to try and make a better life for them through education.
If you or your company would like to become a Friend of the Langports Foundation, please contact me and we’ll gladly send you some information on how you can help.
Thank you John France Chairman of The Langports Foundation