Teach Learn Grow wins funds to support Rangeway and Morawa

An organisation which pairs high-achieving university students with disadvantaged children — for mentorship, one-on-one tutoring and giggles — has received a $5000 grant, with learners in Morawa and Rangeway set to benefit.

“The money means we can feel secure in supporting (those) communities,” Teach Learn Grow development director Cate Leedman said.

Youth Minister Dave Kelly announced more than $202,000 in grants for young people last Friday under the State Government’s COVID-19 Youth Recovery Grants Program.

Teach Learn Grow operates across WA. It regularly visits and supports eight schools in the Mid West and Gascoyne.

According to Ms Leedman, it needed a little extra help to visit Rangeway Primary School and Morawa District High School this year and the government grant was just the ticket.

Each student receives eight to 10 hours of one-on-one support when tutors visit. Ms Leedman said the program “helped kids feel positive about attending school”.

“Another major aspect of he program is we are sending out volunteers that have never spent a week in a rural town before,” she said, adding that 30 per cent of volunteers express a desire to work regionally after participating in the program.

For the organisation, the funding was the cherry on the cake of a great year.Teach Learn Grow celebrated its 10th birthday this year and took out Community Volunteer Organisation of the Year at the National Volunteer Awards in May.

The minister said organisations chosen for grants were “not only educational, informative and youth-aware but are also diverse, interesting and fun”.

“Young people are active participants in their communities and these grants support the ongoing work they are doing across the State to make their communities a better place,” Mr Kelly said.