Ways to combine art and learning
Love of good art will help support a school for disadvantaged kids in Bondi.
On Tuesday November 16, Ravesis will host leading youth organisation WAYS 2010 Fundraising Art Auction at the restaurant and Drift Cocktail Lounge from 6pm.
The auction includes over 40 works from well-known and emerging Australian artists who have produced artwork specifically or donated from their own collections. This initiative is being held to raise funds for the WAYS alternative education programme POEM, known officially as the Waverley Action for Youth Services School.
POEM has space for 15 students but currently has 12 enrolled. This year alone the school has had 40 referrals.
Alastair Goodison has been teaching in the programme, funded by the Federal Board of Studies and registered as an independent school.
“We’ve maintained the ethos of providing alternative education to disconnected and disadvantaged students aged 13 to 19. Typically the most common age group we have is 14 to 16,” Goodison said.
“Most of our students come from single parent lower socio-economic backgrounds and have trouble conforming with standard mainstream schools.”
Problems can range from parents not being able to afford uniforms, truanting and disinterest to drug or alcohol problems. Their experiences at school are usually unsatisfying.
“They fall behind in their work and usually there’s not a lot of support at home with tutoring. They rock up late, are expelled, and get labelled as being troubled kids but many of them are gifted and talented,” Goodison said.
“Some of our students have completed a Year 10 TAFE program in six months. Many are amazing artists and whiz kids on computers. Watching these young students go from having little self control and begin to participate in class is very rewarding. They learn respect and to talk about their problems.
“This is a safe place where they can be kids and even make mistakes. If I can make them learn one valuable lesson that will help them make a good decision later on and help them to see the value of education, I’ve done my job.”
TAFE is one of the school’s main supports since often schools won’t take them back even though many of the students end up with high Bs or low A averages.
The art auction will raise funds to help pay for textbooks and stationery, food for the students, software for their computers, travel expenses and a weekly Friday excursion. The school runs on federal government funding but is not part of the state education system.
Wentworth MP Malcolm Turnbull, a patron of the POEM project, said he admires and respects the work of WAYS in changing the lives of young people.
“Not only is this auction an opportunity to showcase Australian art but proceeds from the auction will help WAYS continue to give troubled young people a second chance at an education. I urge you to support this very good cause,” Mr Turnbull said.
Artworks will be available through live and silent auction. Bids can be emailed to Christine at ways@ways.org.au until midday Monday November 15, 2010.
Entry on the night by RSVP only to ways@ways.org.au
