Donning CBA yellow, the volunteers worked hard to help prepare planter boxes for the job-training permaculture course to be run by Weave’s Step Up program over the next few weeks. Jane Dobson, who helped coordinate Step Up’s permaculture course, said young people who enroll for the course will learn the basics in horticulture to help them continue their study or get a job in the industry.
After a well-earned lunch break there was another surprise in store for Weave when Andrew Hall, General Manager, CBA, presented Weave Director, Shane Brown, with a cheque for $8,000 from CBA’s Staff Community Fund in support of Weave’s Kool Kids Club Literacy Initiative.
“CBA staff have been supporting the health and wellbeing of Australian youth since 1917. We know how important it is to encourage a child’s literacy skills. The Kool Kids Club Literacy Initiative will engage an Aboriginal writer to work with children to not only tell their stories but also increase their reading and writing skills. It’s a clever way to ensure learning can be fun too,” Mr Hall said. “We’re proud to be supporting such a worthwhile project.”
Shane Brown was delighted to receive the grant. “The Kool Kids Club was established in 2001 and in that time schools in La Perouse, Matraville and Chifley have reported improved grades, behaviour and retention rates. It’s great to know that young people who have graduated from the Kool Kids Club now have their HSC and are going into jobs or further education.”
After the presentation another CBA surprise was in store. Weave was broken into on the weekend of September 14-15, losing laptops, an iPad and a car as well as having walls sprayed with paint. Mr Hall, having learned what had happened, presented an iPad to Shane. “It’s a small contribution to help Weave out as your organisation helps so many.”
Shane Brown was very pleased with the unexpected donation. “It’s great to have the support of the CBA and its fantastic staff too.”
