Media
Media Release
June 29, 2006
Music Teacher Realises a Dream in Central Vietnam
Victorian music teacher, Karen Leonard, has turned a dream she had as a backpacker into reality. She has just opened the Lifestart Foundation Free School in the Quang Nam Province of Vietnam.
The School is the fruition of five years of fundraising by Leonard and her friends in Australia to provide a better quality of life to children and families in one of the poorest regions of Vietnam.
The Lifestart Foundation is committed to implementing a number of sponsorship programs and has so far provided 36 education scholarships for children; has given 56 micro-business grants to families to assist them toward self-sufficiency; installed basic services for many families in their homes; provided clothing to over 100 children; assisted 'at-risk' street children into training programs; built seven houses for families who were without shelter; built 20 boats to provide a source of income and shelter for families during annual flooding; renovated and given basic supplies to a local orphanage; and assisted with medical expenses for a number of children with severe illnesses.
Leonard first conceived of her dream when she was backpacking through Vietnam in 2001. A private school music teacher for 30 years, she was deeply affected after a chance encounter with a street kid during her trip. She was introduced to his world and realised she had to do something.
Her assistance first took the form of personally supporting several street kids by encouraging them back to school and paying their education costs. Since that time friends and family have all been asked to assist and her Lifestart Foundation was formed in 2004.
The Foundation is funded by Leonard's continued music teaching and a fundraising event held in Melbourne each year. With the growing success of the Foundation, Leonard is spending more and more time in Vietnam overseeing its projects whilst juggling the on-going pressure to ensure its financial viability.
This year's annual Christmas in July fundraiser will be held on Saturday 29 July with a dinner dance and charity auction.
Lifestart Foundation is a non-profit charity registered in Victoria. www.lifestartfoundation.org.au
For all media enquiries and interview requests please contact:
Fran Lanigan t: 03) 9690-7557 m: 0412-174-033 e: laniganf@ozemail.com.au