EastLink helps children to read out of poverty

Announced on World Refugee Day, EastLink has donated $100,000 to Reading Out Of Poverty.

This brings EastLink’s total for donations during 2021 to $600,000.

As the unprecedented impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Victorian community continues, one area of concern has been the impact on language skills and literacy of pre-school children.

For many migrant and refugee families, learning a new language is a significant barrier, in particular for their pre-school children.

This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

For this reason, EastLink is announcing this literacy initiative on World Refugee Day.

Sunday 20 June 2021 is World Refugee Day, an international day designated by the United Nations to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.

EastLink Managing Director Charles Griplas said, “EastLink recognises that some local people, for example living in the greater Dandenong and Frankston regions, will benefit from additional social cohesion.”

“To assist migrant and refugee families during these difficult times, EastLink has donated $100,000 to Reading Out Of Poverty.”

Reading Out Of Poverty is the only non-profit organisation in Victoria with a sole focus on providing early literacy skills and school preparedness for children aged 0-5 years from a disadvantaged background.

Reading Out Of Poverty CEO Andrew Kay said, “This level of support will allow us to reach 20,000 migrant and refugee families in the region with children’s books, literacy starter packs and specialised tutoring.”

“Over the past 18 months we have seen an increased need for books to support at home learning, and this initiative will help meet that growing demand,” he said.

Andrew Kay (Reading Out Of Poverty) and Charles Griplas (EastLink) with an award to mark the $100,000 donation (photos Nicole Cleary):

About Reading Out Of Poverty

Reading Out Of Poverty (www.roop.org.au) promotes literacy skills in early childhood and provides literacy resources and services to families with young children from low socio-economic backgrounds, including migrants, refugees, and indigenous individuals in Victoria.

About World Refugee Day

World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on 20 June and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.

About EastLink

EastLink has now donated a total of $600,000 to community service providers during 2021:

• January 2021: $100,000 donation to Peninsula Community Legal Centre (more details)
• February 2021: $100,000 donation to Eastern Community Legal Centre (more details)
• March 2021: $100,000 donation to EACH for Eastern Financial Counselling Services (more details)
• April 2021: $100,000 donation to Beyond Blue (more details)
• May 2021: $100,000 donation to Safe Steps (more details)
• June 2021: $100,000 donation to Reading Out Of Poverty

As a leader in transport sustainability, EastLink is privileged to be able to deliver this significant program of donations to these essential services in our local community.

Andrew Kay (Reading Out Of Poverty) at EastLink's artwork titled "Boy Looking Up"  (photos Nicole Cleary):