EdConnect Australia and Alcoa Foundation presented the impact of their partnership at an event for volunteers and schools on 25th of November 2020.

This year, over 160 EdConnect volunteers from the Kwinana, Peel and Upper South West region provided 244 hours of support per week when schools were open. Volunteers assisted nearly 900 students with mentoring or learning support. EdConnect volunteers in Peel contributed over $370,000 of value back into the local community.

“Education has been disrupted in many ways during 2020 which has affected learning and created anxiety for many students.” EdConnect CEO Gerri Clay explained, “This year particularly, students have needed the reliable, one-on-one time EdConnect volunteers provide.”

Chaplain and School Coordinator Christina Stonesmith spoke about the impact volunteer mentors have on students. Christina shared the following student quote “I never thought I had a mentor, it feels like I have an adult who cares and values me, because they listen, nothing is silly, I can share anything. I have gained a lot of things that I use to help support me and make it easier to go through my day. I can never thank my mentor enough for believing in me and listening.”

EdConnect is able to deliver its Connecting Generations for School Success Program volunteer program to schools in the Kwinana-Rockingham, Mandurah-Pinjarra and Harvey-Waroona areas through funding from the Alcoa Foundation. Alcoa and EdConnect have been working together since 2016 in order to establish and grow volunteer assistance in local schools.