Dear Friends 

We are incredibly grateful for your continued generosity, which is giving children around the world the gift of life and hope!  In the last financial year, your support has helped rescue, protect and empower over 7000 children living in the poorest communities.  Here are some highlights from our supported countries:

• Through our partnership with Hagar in Cambodia, we are advocating the rights of children and providing safety, care and rehabilitation for young girls that have been rescued from brothels and sexually exploitative situations.  
• Further afield in Rwanda, we’ve helped improve the living conditions for over 700 children living in child headed families.  Thanks to your giving, we’ve also been able to fund a mobile healthcare clinic and a school catch-up program for street kids in Rwanda. 
• In Kenya, we provided emergency relief funds for child victims following the violence earlier this year, in addition to supporting orphaned children at the Mully Children’s Home. 
• In Ukraine, we’ve enabled local workers to improve the lives of abandoned babies and disabled children in state-run hospitals and orphanages. 
• We’ve continued our support for girls at risk in Northern Thailand and helped provide loving homes for children in rural Thailand who have been orphaned due to AIDS.  We’ve also identified a new project that we are currently raising funds for, the Urban Neighbours of Hope working in the Klong Toey slum in Bangkok.  
• We’ve widened our reach into South East Asia by partnering with a new project in Bali, the Widhya Asih Foundation, which has seven children’s homes throughout Bali.  With the help of community fundraisers we are raising funds for these near neighbours. 

This work is all possible because of the faithful giving of our supporters, not only financially but also in time.  The need is enormous, however we are continually encouraged by the impact our Aussie dollars have in releasing children from hopelessness and despair.  As you read this newsletter, we trust you will be encouraged too.  Thank you for partnering with us and for acting on behalf of these children!

Blessings

Bridget Hadfield
Coordinator

It’s wonderful to hear stories of little girls like Malis, who was born with Downs Syndrome and lived an isolated life in Cambodia.  The local school didn’t accept her and her parents struggled to care for her.  She’s now part of the Hagar House of Smiles and loves to learn.  Her parents are receiving training on how to care for her special needs and now her life is much brighter.

 

The Golf Classic held on April 8 was a great success!   The weather was kind to us once again and we had 78 players taking on the challenges of the Mt Lawley Golf Course.  Over 125 people attended the evening dinner and enjoyed the spirit of the charity auction.  Our MC Tod Johnston helped make it a very enjoyable evening.  A total of $28,000 was raised for the much-needed new House of Smiles facility, which will make a huge difference in the lives of children with disabilities in Cambodia.  A big thanks to everyone who was involved and special thanks to our sponsors for their support – Trident Australia, Connell Wagner, Habitat Finance, Golf Select, WA Golf Promotions and Drummond Golf.

 

In addition to our annual Impact Trips, we are also organising two Field Trips this year. 

Thailand Creative Trip - we are calling for creative arts people to focus on teaching dance, drama, music and painting to children in a Bangkok slum in October, working with the Urban Neighbours of Hope.

Cambodia Field Trip - we are also calling for tradies and handyman types to do building maintenance work in Cambodia, and for people to teach English.

All the details and application forms are on the Foundation website www.riverviewchildrensfoundation.com or contact us for more information.  The closing date for applications is June 30.

Since the launch of our community fundraising initiative in February, over $6000 has been raised for various projects, which is a fantastic start! 

Isabel & Heather Baker at the Subway Gateway Fundraiser for Bali organised by Nick & Belinda Beard

 

Hendra Gunawan speaking at the Bali Fundraising Dinner organised by Rod Wesley


There are a number of other community fundraising events in the pipeline that you can support…

Blues n Roots Charity Concert for Hands of Hope Ukraine
Saturday 21 June @ 7.30pm, Fly by Night, Fremantle
Download the flyer here for all the details. Click here to purchase tickets on-line. 

Perth Women’s Breakfast ‘Pearls of Wisdom’
Saturday 30 August, Burswood Entertainment Complex
Women from all walks of life are invited to this event, which will raise funds for child headed households in Rwanda. It includes a sumptuous breakfast, inspiring speakers, a fashion parade, a silent auction, door prizes and more.  For ticket details contact annelie.harwig1@bigpond.com or go online to http://www.creativeevents.net.au/

The Great Car Push
One Car, Ten People, 150km and No Petrol
Can ten people push a car further than anyone else in the world?  Are you interested in helping raise money for the Riverview Children’s Foundation?  I am currently organising an official world record attempt that involves pushing a car the farthest distance ever achieved.  So if you are interested in participating or know someone else who is, by either pushing the car, assisting in organising or providing corporate sponsorship, or if you simply want more information, please email Toby Clarke at thegreatcarpush@hotmail.com

Donation Boxes
The Foundation is in the process of getting donation boxes to put in 10 Subway stores around Perth.  If you are a business owner, or know of one, who would consider putting a donation box on its counter, please let us know asap.  The boxes will be lockable with a chain to secure.  An easy fundraiser!

End of Financial Year Tax-Deductible Giving
All donations of $2 or more are fully tax deductible.  To give to the Foundation please download the donation form here or contact us on (08) 9416 0042 to give via credit card. 

What are the needs?

• The issue of child prostitution is continuing to grow in developing countries.  UNICEF estimates that over 2 million children are exploited in the commercial sex trade each year.  We need more people to partner with us to rescue and protect these children from this suffering and empower them to live the life they deserve.
• The cost of living has risen dramatically in developing countries, especially food and fuel prices. The IMF reports that food prices have risen by 45 percent since the end of 2006.  We need additional funds to meet the current levels required by our project partners.

Burma and China Emergency Relief Appeals
In response to the recent natural disasters in Burma and China, the Foundation is partnering with Global Development Group who are working collaboratively with local partners to help relieve the suffering and trauma that these events have caused.   Tax-deductible donations quoting J429 Burma Emergency Relief or J385 China Earthquake Relief can be made online via www.globaldevelopment.org.au

PO Box 524
Victoria Park
Western Australia 6979
P: +61 8 9416 0000
E: Online contact form
W: www.riverviewchildrensfoundation.com