our children
“I
feel like I am genuinely filling a gap in keeping the Learning Room at the
Marian Centre open for kids to play. It has been an incredibly rewarding
experience.”
Jenny Waite, NSW Credit Controller and Marian Centre volunteer
The
Marian Centre Learning Room
The
Marian Centre is a shelter run by St Vincent De Paul in Lewisham, Sydney. It
provides temporary accommodation, food, shelter and counselling for homeless
women and children who have suffered abuse.
In
2005 Dimension Data renovated and converted a room at the centre into a
Learning Room for kids. The room provides a valuable release for the kids
from the emotional and stressful events that dominate their lives, while also
giving their mothers some much-needed time off.
However,
since the room was kept locked for security reasons, the kids were not able
to visit the room very often. Staff supervision was required at all times and
The Marian Centre simply did not have spare resources.
Dimension
Data’s NSW volunteer committee saw an opportunity to become involved and drew
up a roster of Dimension Data volunteers to visit the Learning Room once a
week to supervise and play with the children. Due to the regular stream of
volunteers, the Learning Room can now open its doors every Thursday afternoon
after school.
“It
helps the children make use of the room and gives them an outlet to express
themselves.
Parents
comment on how extraordinary the experience is for the kids,” says Billy
Smyth, NSW Volunteer Co-Team Leader.
The
NSW volunteer committee has plans to increase the opening hours of the
Learning Room to other weekdays and take the kids on fun outings further
afield.
“This
is the first time I have ever volunteered and I realised I had been missing
out. The kids are fantastic – very upbeat and often excitable. I feel as
though I get as much out of it as the kids do!” says Dimension Data Business
Development Manager, Judy Saunders.
Starlight
Foundation
Dimension
Data’s long association with The Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia began over
ten years ago, and was further strengthened with the creation of the IT Fund
for Kids in 2000. The fund was established specifically for the IT&T
industry to support the work and programs of Starlight and Giant Steps to
help seriously ill and autistic children.
Dimension
Data also contributed to the emerging charity by providing pro bono technical
and business support and consulting. In the years since, the partnership
between Starlight and Dimension Data has deepened and strengthened, and
Dimension Data has introduced the charity to several of its clients.
In
2007, Dimension Data representatives were ambassadors for the Sydney and
Melbourne Know IT All Challenge events, with that commitment continuing in
2008.
In
2007 and 2008, Dimension Data galvanised volunteers in all major capital
cities to sell merchandise for Starlight’s most important fundraising day:
Starlight Day.
