Nepean School students get heartwarming gift from Envision’s Work for the Dole participants
A unique donation made to a Seaford special school by a group of unemployed anonymous youths, touched staff so much it reduced many of them to tears.
South East
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A unique donation made to a southeast special school by group of unemployed youths has reduced the school’s staff to tears.
Students at Nepean School Seaford were given a giant combi van cubbyhouse, made by a group of unknown youths who have been doing it tough.
The group, who were participants in Envision’s Work for the Dole program, spent weeks hand-crafting the multi-coloured cubbyhouse, and donated it to the school’s primary aged kids on Thursday.
Nepean school grant writer and education worker Sheryl Cantlie said the gift would make a “phenomenal difference” for her students, who live with a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy and cystic fibrosis.
“Kids who have never painted or had a job have put their heart and soul into making this cubby,” she said.
“They may have come out of jail or lived through traumatic experiences … but they’ve made a unique play space so our kids get the same creative opportunities as students in mainstream schools.”
The school is home to more than 130 students, with the majority of the cohort wheelchair-bound and unable to communicate through speech.
Ms Cantlie said the cubbyhouse was a perfect addition to the primary playground and would provide a much-needed undercover play space for rainy days.
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“The kids will be able to do music and art therapy inside … they have different ways of communicating,” she said.
“They break your heart, but make you the happiest person at the same time.
“(This school) is the best place to work at.”
Envision is a not-for-profit organisation which creates meaningful projects to empower and upskill the unemployed.