Over the past 20 years 223 local students have received a welcome, financial helping hand as they embarked on their post school tertiary studies and vocational training.
On Thursday night the two decade milestone of the community group which provided the support, the Country Education Foundation of the Namoi, (CEF Namoi), was marked with an anniversary celebration of supporters, financial donors and former student beneficiaries.
A small volunteer group launched CEF Namoi in 2003.
Since then, CEF Namoi has supported 223 local students to further their education at university or TAFE, or to start a trade or apprenticeship, with a total of $364,945 in grants.
Nowadays, the grant beneficiaries are university and TAFE graduates, qualified tradespeople and technicians across the spectrum of careers.
The CEF Namoi financial assistance which helps students meet costs for text books, travel, tutoring, accommodation, fuel, laptop computers or other expenses has been raised locally, thanks to generous business and private sponsors, and from ‘in kind’ or co-funding support from educational institutions.
In CEF Namoi’s first year, three grants of $500 each from money raised locally were given to students, CEF Namoi chair Cara Stoltenberg told the anniversary celebration in Narrabri.
“This year CEF Namoi was able to support 19 local students with individual grants ranging from $1000 to $11,000,” Mrs Stoltenberg said.
“The combined value of this assistance in 2023 has been more than $90,000.
“It’s important to note that some of this $90,000 came from our university and college partners who provide co-funding to our students who study with them, adding significant extra value to our local grants.
“Who would have thought that when a group of local men and woman started CEF Namoi back in 2003, it would turn in to all that it has become?
“Now in our 20th year CEF Namoi continues to make a significant impact on the lives of many young local people, helping make their goal of further education or training more achievable.
“CEF Namoi is a not-for-profit organisation which works to ensure that as many young people as possible from our rural area of Australia have the opportunity to pursue their post high school education, training or vocation goals by providing much needed financial assistance, support and encouragement.”
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What an incredible story! It’s truly inspiring to see how much impact a dedicated group of people can make over two decades. Just wondering, how does the application process work for students who need support? Are the criteria strict, or is it more flexible to accommodate different circumstances? This foundation seems like a lifeline for students pursuing further education and training. Here’s to many more successful years of the CEF Namoi!