Lifestart Foundation is a non-profit organisation registered in Victoria, Australia. Founded by Karen Leonard, it has been created to help those living in disadvantaged situations in Vietnam to become self-sufficient.
Five years ago while backpacking through Vietnam, Karen met a young street kid and they had an instant connection. After returning home from this first trip deeply affected by the plight of these people, Karen made a commitment that she would return to Vietnam and support him and a few others.
Ten years later Karen has never worked harder than she is doing at this present time, and views her thirty years of teaching music to the privileged and running a small business as an extremely long apprenticeship for the work she is now devoting the rest of her life to.
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Lifestart Foundation is currently helping street kids into apprenticeship programs, sponsoring entire families through the Support a Family program, providing opportunities to allow children to complete their education and working with those with disabilities to help provide a sustainable income. All recipients of aid are personally interviewed and assessed by Karen.
The long term goal of the Lifestart Foundation is to set up proven working programmes within a small community to effect a generational change.
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Lifestart Foundation is a grass-roots organization run by a dedicated team of volunteers. Run entirely on good-will, the foundation guarantees that 100% of all donations go to helping our projects in Vietnam.
The Foundation raises funds independent of donations to cover travel and administrative costs.
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If you would like to get involved here are some examples of the projects that you, or a group of friends, could arrange to sponsor.
Support-a-Family
* Cost: $400.00 (AU$) p/a
* Assists families who live in poverty
* Aims to help families towards self-sufficiency
* Provides 1 year of: school tuition and additional costs, 2 bicycles, 2 pigs, 10 chickens, rice, clothing and kitchen appliances
* * This list will vary according to each families needs
Jobstart
* Cost: $120.00 - $300.00 (AU$) p/a
* Assists street kids and 'at risk youth'
* Aims to teach skills and secure future employment
* Provides apprenticeship training
* * Tuition costs vary depending on length and type of course
Seven Year Educational Scholarships (Grade 6 to Grade 12)
* Cost: $2500 AU$ for full scholarship
* Assists exceptionally bright children who may not otherwise been able to complete their education through to year 12
* Aims to help break the poverty cycle by increasing the level of education attained
* Provides school fees, books and uniforms for five years.
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If you would like to donate to one of the projects listed above, or help with our work more generally, you can make a donation online through http://www.lifestartfoundation.org.au/ or post a cheque to the contact address above.
If you would like to find out other ways you can work with us please have a look at the wishlist on our website.
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Attached Documents:
Projects Update
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