Please help us to rewrite the story for children like Levi this Christmas
When you’re 10 years old, life’s ‘big’ problems often involve bickering with a sibling, eating a food you don’t like or having to get off technology when you will just be ‘one more minute’.
But for Levi*, his 10 short years have involved changing homes, too many days of missed school and a sense of not belonging. A feeling all too familiar with children living in out of home care.
Now residing in a residential care facility (often referred to as ‘resi’ care) Levi felt more alone than ever before.
Resi care is often the last resort for children entering care over the age of 12, but with rapidly growing numbers and not enough foster carers to go around, children like Levi now call these facilities home.
Resi Care are homes where children in out-of-home stay and there is a team of rostered employees on rotation.
Children like Levi need support more than ever.
Levi, 11, lives in a residential care facility (a last resort for children living in out of home care, which often has a rotation of support workers).
Bring hope, joy and companionship to a child in care this Christmas
Statistics tells us that just a few short years ago, 94% of all children and young people in care had family-based placements, this has now dropped to 87% which means the rest of these children are living in resi care.
Due to the nature of resi care and changing care workers in the home, these children often feel isolated and without a dedicated support person.
Many children in resi care have suffered significant trauma and have often entered state care due to their exposure to significant domestic violence situations, severe neglect and abuse.
Research proves that above all, relationships are of vital importance for children and young people, especially to overcome the sometimes-everlasting impact of trauma they have experienced in their pasts.
For Levi though… who is part of our Love of Learning Program, his path has taken a brighter trajectory because of the gift he received in his very own Pyjama Angel.
Will you be part of helping rewrite the story for kids like Levi this Christmas?
In a letter shared with us from Levi’s Case Worker* (also known as Child Safety Officers), he told us that Levi received his ‘Guardian Angel’ during what he described as an incredibly tumultuous time in his life.
A time where the trauma from his past had caught up with him and meant his previous foster home placements had broken down.
A time where, he felt as though he was navigating life on his own, and in many circumstances, was watching other children in the Resi home fall into a cycle of anti-social behaviour… a life of drugs and crime that deep down inside Levi knew he didn’t want.
Ian (Levi’s Pyjama Angel) arrived at the perfect time, with no expectations and a heart wide open ready to support Levi through all of his days ahead.
Ian and Levi have built a strong friendship, and Levi has shown improvement in his interest to learn and engage in school.
Together, they read books, play fun games, play sports together and enjoy each other’s company.
For Levi, Ian is his one constant person, in a place where there is a rotation of support workers.
Help us make this a reality for other children living in out-of-home care, and give children their own Guardian Angel – just like Ian.
Our Program and mentors are offered free to children, but this is only possible through donations.
This Christmas we want to raise $50,000 to able to gift 50 more children the gift of a Pyjama Angel. Will you support us with a donation to help make this possible?
Donate today to bring hope and joy to kids in care, just like Levi
All donations over $2 are tax deductible. If you prefer to donate via another method (bank deposit), please us via donate@thepyjamafoundation.com
Thank you to our generous supporter Direct Connect for helping us support more children this Christmas.
