Young indigenous people will have access to an Accelerated Learning Program at NRL Cowboys House in Townsville, thanks to a funding boost from the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation (CCAF).
The Cowboys Community Foundation’s NRL Cowboy’s House is one of 32 charities benefiting from a total of more than $750,000 in grants to help create moments of happiness and possibilities for young Australians.
To place an application for the grant, each charity had to be endorsed by an employee of Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) or Coca-Cola South Pacific (CCSP).
Paul Woodhouse, regional manager for Queensland, Coca-Cola Amatil nominated the charity because of his personal connection with the work they do in Townsville.
“Students at NRL Cowboys House come from remote communities to Townsville for the opportunity to access the local high school that best suits their talents and aspirations,” Paul said. “I believe in the importance of access to educational opportunities for young people and know the funding, which will enable additional personalised support for each student, will go a long way towards helping them to reach their full potential.”
The grant will fund an Accelerated Learning Program, involving expert assessment and intensive tutoring for young indigenous people from rural Queensland.
Teens participating in the program will live at the NRL Cowboys House, which will enable them to develop personal resilience and successfully enrol at mainstream schools in Townsville.
NRL Cowboy’s House’ Community Foundation has four areas of focus: encouraging school attendance; inspiring positive life choices during the junior secondary years; supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to complete secondary school; and providing access to secondary education for young people from remote Indigenous communities.
Coca-Cola Australia Foundation chair, Malcolm Hudson, said he was delighted the CCAF could support such a diverse range of causes, important to employees.
“From scout halls, literacy programs and conservation projects to camps for young people with special needs, there’s so much great work happening in local communities to bring happiness to our young people. It’s work we’re incredibly proud to support.
“Our Employee Connected Grants are a great way for both Coca-Cola South Pacific and Coca-Cola Amatil staff to connect with charities that have a personal connection with our employees.”
At the end of June 2016, the CCAF opened a grant round for community organisations to apply for grants in two forms: Flagship Grants, major grant partners for CCAF over the next three years and Employee Connected Grants which are smaller, one-off grant projects in communities where employees live, work or have a connection.
To have been eligible for a grant in 2016, it was required that charity missions were relevant to young Australians aged 13 to 19 years and addressed their happiness, optimism, empowerment, wellbeing and/or enhanced possibilities for a positive life.
