Break the poverty cycle in Marlkawo

Dear family, friends and hopefully prospective donors.

 

Earlier this year, my school presented me with a once in a lifetime opportunity to go on a week of service. To a place called Marlkawo, A twelve-hour road trip from Darwin situated in the heart of Arnhem land. Marlkawo has no shops, no service, no running water and no toilets. It is an escape to country for families and children suffering in western culture. Every week, the Malkawo community receives a group of families from Darwin and along the coastal regions of the Northern Territory, who come in troopies and trek the flood ridden roads for the chance to escape the poverty, unemployment and violence of their towns. Children from the ages of 6-11, who have been expelled or suspended come particularly with there mothers to maintain their education away from the distractions for a week. The days begin with physical activities i.e swimming in the local watering hole (provided no crocodiles), before western learning in the morning and cultural language in the afternoon. These are such underprivileged kids ridden with vast health issues and who are scared by the poverty that surrounds their ordinary families. Marlkawo provides kids a cultural oasis which enables them to flourish. Upon getting the chance to experience Marlkawo I have been asked to do two things.

 

Firstly to get ready to teach! Alongside some other boys we will be conducting many of the classroom activities with the children, teaching them basic numeracy and spelling whilst joining them throughout the experience.

 

Secondly to help fundraise. The educational experience which is vital for these poverty-stricken indigenous children, is in dire need of support. The experience is free and dependent on generous benefactors to enable the service to exist, and be provided to the community for free. Any money, will go to two major networks of support.

1. Allowing the program to continue, supporting the money needed for transportation to and from the community. The nutrition and health support provided to these children is free and impactful. Continue to fund the vast employment opportunities these trips bring for the indigenous community share previously there has been no source of income.

2. Continuing the program and expanding it, Increasing the number of tropies so that more people can access the services. Health and safety of the community is improved, whilst the balance between country and civilisation is apart of the experience, the roads and airstrip are in such dire condition that in case of a major emergency, the community would likely remain stranded.

 

The people of Marlkawo do not receive any government funding. They give the poorest and under-privledge kids a chance to connect with their culture and get an education where they can flourish. Whilst I will do my best teaching, the money raised will go to a community who are crying out for help. No matter how big/small your donation, the people of Marlkawo deserve everything they can get.