Ways to help Yalari

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

From little things, big things grow. By joining our mailing list, you’ll receive our newsletter four times per year. You may occasionally get an email or an invitation to one of our events. You’ll get to see what we’re doing, when and where we’re doing it and you may be able to help. We promise not to bombard you with Yalari, just keep you gently informed. You can then make the decision to act on something that interests you, or pass the information onto someone else who can help us in our work. You can sign up for the mailing list by clicking here. You can also follow us on facebook.

HELP US SUPPORT A STUDENT

School fees are only the beginning of the cost of sending students to boarding school. Some of our Yalari children also need help with things like weekly pocket money so they have the same opportunity to go to the movies or buy an ice cream as their peers. We also have school uniform costs, excursion costs, hire of laptops and various bits and pieces that come up during the year. Occasionally we will bring students parents down to the schools for a night so they can watch their child at a sports carnival or school theatre performance. We need to provide some students with mobile phone credit so they can stay in touch with their family. We have people who make a small donation each year to help us provide these things. We also have people who make one off or monthly donations to cover a student’s pocket money. Everything helps, and everything over $2 is tax deductible. Please contact our Development and Communications Manager, Mr Scott Young on 07 5665 8688 to discuss supporting our students.

VOLUNTEER

We need volunteers for all sorts of things. Volunteers keep Yalari going with all their valuable unpaid hours of assistance with everything from envelope filling, camp supervision, homework help and fundraising. Volunteers often tell us that they receive as much pleasure out of assisting Yalari as we get from all their help. People often ring and offer their services but are unsure of exactly how to help. We will find a way and value everyones contribution. We have a National Volunteer’s Coordinator to make sure we are looking after our volunteers and also making best use of their generosity.

SPONSOR AN EDUCATION

If you average out the cost of fees across our thirty-four partner schools, minus the fee reductions and government contributions, we estimate that it costs us $15,000 per year per student for school fees. Various foundations, groups, companies and individuals elect to help us by sponsoring one or more students for one year or for the length of a student’s secondary education. If you would like to learn more about sponsoring or contributing to an education, please contact us on (07) 5665-8688

SPREAD THE WORD

Most of the support Yalari receives comes from word of mouth. We need people to talk about Yalari wherever and whenever possible. Apart from the goodwill this generates, many good things come from these conversations. Students and their families learn about the scholarship programme and begin to think about whether it might be an option for them. Kids in small communities begin to dream about becoming a doctor or a lawyer or a prime minister. A corporate entity decides to get involved and make a significant contribution. Someone calls us and offers to mentor a young person or offer one work experience at their firm. If you would like printed or electronic versions of our information to assist you in spreading the word, let us know.

ATTEND AN EVENT

Yalari has regular events scheduled across the country throughout the year. In 2010 we will have fundraising dinners in both Sydney and Brisbane and in 2011 we will add dinners in Melbourne and Adelaide. We also have various smaller events that occur throughout the year across the country. These are great opportunities to gather our supporters together and help spread the message. These events all depend on many people participating and they’re always lots of fun. Gather a crowd together and attend a dinner or a bike ride or an art opening. See our events calendar to find out what’s coming next near you.

HELP US FUNDRAISE

Yalari relies on private fundraising and donations as well as government support. We have a range of fundraising initiatives happening throughout the year and are always interested in new ways to raise money for education. If you have an idea and the inclination to help us with a fundraising initiative, we’d love to hear from you. If you would like to help us with one of our existing fundraising campaigns, we would especially like to hear from you. We only have limited time and resources and prefer to use those on our core business- our students. The people who come in and help us to raise the money we need to keep providing educational opportunities for Indigenous children are, well, priceless.

PARTNER WITH YALARI

We have a range of valued supporters who provide us with in-kind support rather than outright donations. This might be a printing firm who gives us a print run at cost or a local motel who donates some free accommodation. With almost 200 students and families to support, a range of staff and activities and very limited resources, you would be surprised what we need from time to time. If we can’t directly use your goods or services for Yalari we can generally auction them at one of our many fundraising events.

BEQUESTS

You could make a significant and lasting difference to the future of this country by contributing to Yalari in your will. We have been honoured and humbled by people who have indicated they will be assisting us in the future this way.