In its fifth year, philanthropic powerhouse YGAP is back with their life changing 5cent campaign encouraging children in schools across Australia to take a stand against one of the root causes of global poverty – lack of education.
The success of this campaign in its past four years has been astonishing, leading Australians to collect almost 11 million five-cent coins, raising $546,985 to help YGAP support 212 impact entrepreneurs change the lives of a staggering 139,159 people living in poverty.
YGAP CEO Elliot Costello said the campaign aims to improve access to education, provide the resources kids require to stay in school, increase their capacity to build the skills and determination they need to succeed.
“Educational disadvantage is not a problem unique to the developing world,” Mr Costello says. “Kids in Australia – even those who are not readily identified as disadvantaged – are at risk too, and we are committed to addressing this issue in our own backyard as well as abroad.”
The 5cent campaign helps fund ventures in the developing world as well as domestic programs like Eat Up, a non-profit organisation providing free lunches to over 300 disadvantaged Australian school children, ensuring they have the energy required to learn.
The reality is that 1 in 5 people are unable to read or write1 were denied access to an education, a basic human right. Of those, 41 per cent of primary school age children will never go to school and in the world’s least developed countries, the overall illiteracy rate is a staggering 49 per cent2. In 2013, UNESCO reported that 124 million kids.
YGAP believes youth are the greatest leaver for change in society and this year is asking them to drive the campaign. They encourage students to unleash collect small change to drive big change.
As teachers and student leadership are the driving force behind the campaign, YGAP has partnered withassociations like the Victorian Student Representative Council (VicSRC). VicSRC Manager Krista Seddon said it is important for children to understand not everyone is afforded the right to an education. “Students want to be part of the solution for future generations. YGAP’s 5cent make a huge impact when we work together,” Ms Seddon said.
With over $150 million worth of five-cent coins in Australia, we can empower the collective value of the five-cent coin and raise the much-needed funds to improve education.
It only takes just $5, a handful of five-cent coins to help a child stay in school. All funds raised are used to support impact entrepreneurs improving through YGAP’s Spark* program.
Be the change you want to see in the world and help YGAP keep our kids in school – register your interest today at 5cent.com.au.
ABOUT YGAP
YGAP is an organization of entrepreneurs that change lives. To fund their work they run their own social enterprises (Feast of Merit), innovative fundraising campaigns (5cent, Polished Man) and partner with incredible donors. They use this funding to find and back impact entrepreneurs who are changing the lives of people living in poverty.
1 Leitch, S (December 2006); Leitch Review of Skills: Prosperity for all in the global economy - world
2 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Institute for Statistics Database (2013)
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