Scratch, dot, scribble, swish.
That’s the sound of my five-year-old nephew drawing a picture, proud as punch at his arty ways. He likes to think of himself a little Picasso this one.
In just a week, he will head off to kindergarten where I’m sure he will be able to put his new art and craft skills to good use. His interest in the subject has increased dramatically in the past month, after I purchased some colourful Yoobi stationery supplies from Officeworks for Christmas.
Drawn to the brand’s perky designs, there was actually another reason I chose to buy their school supply products for my nephew and the reason, I am sure, will pull at your heartstrings a little.
Sophie’s Story
In 2009, I had the privilege of travelling to rural and remote communities as a teacher-volunteer, helping children from disadvantaged families to learn to read and write. These children were not only bright, there were eager; ready to spell, read a book and write some for the first time.
Throughout this time I met and got to know many families, even visited their homes and shared meals with them, often staying until bedtime to read their little ones a book or two.
But it was one little girl’s story that stole my heart her name was Sophie and she was six.
Sophie lived with her widowed mother and two brothers, who were both older and quite rough around the edges, which you can’t blame them for.
She wore the boys’ old clothes, which fell off her shoulders, and trotted around the schoolyard in an old pair of shoes. She came to school with one of her brother’s old school bags, his lunchbox and his schoolbook, which only had a few pages to spare and was quite tattered.
Sophie had never had anything for her own, but she was the happiest, loveliest child I had ever met. The six-year-old wanted to learn so that one day she could become a teacher and read books to children the way that we were reading to her class. She loved to write, colour and draw pictures of anything from birds to trees and mountains. Her talent was incredible and she was determined to make the most out of any opportunity, signing out new library books each day and reading them at night, even if she didn’t understand the words.
I should mention that the community we were staying in was notoriously poor, with many families unable to find work and scraping to buy food. They had little but each other, which they said was enough and I thought was nothing short of amazing.
On the second week of our stay at the school, Sophie came to me in tears because all the pages in her schoolbook had run out and she could not longer find room for her precious drawings. Her mother did the same; devastated that she could not provide more for her daughter to learn the way she wanted to.
According to the teacher at the school, it was rare to hear a child so completely in love with learning although, many more were starting to catch on.
By the end of the week though, my team and I had been able to surprise the students with boxes of new art supplies, crayons, pencils and drawing paper, through the generosity of others.
The look on their faces could have lit up a room – and very nearly did! It was the best gift anyone could have given them, especially Sophie, who was beside herself with joy.
Since that day, I have kept in contact with Sophie’s mother to check on her progress at school. She is now 12-years-old and about to start high school, still as sprightly as ever and eager to learn, her mother told me.
Why you need to help!
That’s where I get back to Yoobi and their “one for you, one for me” slogan, because for every Yoobi item purchased, the company will donate another item to a child in need in Australia “” children like Sophie.
Two Aussies launched Yoobi in the US 2 years ago, and have already given to over 1 million US kids in need! In December last year Yoobi moved their motivating mission here to Australia, where where they teamed up with The Smith Family to provide disadvantaged young Australians with tools and support to help them thrive at school.
Many of these children lack the basics needed in the classroom and at home, like pens, paper and other essential stationery items. This contributes to these children’s feeling of isolation, which can affect their success at school. Both Yoobi and The Smith Family passionately believe that helping children to do well in their journey through school, delivers long term benefits to them, their families and generations to come!
Yoobi have an impressive display of supplies on offer at Officeworks, which is not only eye-catching but will make a difference too.
How you can help
- For every like or follow to this post, Yoobi will donate an additional school item to a disadvantaged Aussie kid in need! It’s that easy.
- Purchase your Yoobi school supplies from Officeworks, and know that for every Yoobi product you buy, a Yoobi school item will be donated to an Aussie kid in need.
- Follow Yoobi on social media and help them build a community of brand ambassadors.
- Tell your friend’s about Yoobi’s mission to help disadvantage children learn and encourage them to support the campaign.
