OPTUS GRANT HELPS SECURE IDENTIFICATION FOR DISADVANTAGED YOUTH IN ARMIDALE

On Wednesday 8 May, Armidale’s Enactus organisation will showcase participants in its ‘Minimbah Project’, thanks to $10,000 in funding from the ‘yes’ Optus Community Grants program.

The Optus grant helped the organisation secure birth certificates for Armidale’s Indigenous and disadvantaged children.

Enactus, a community of students, academic and business leaders looking to use entrepreneurial action to transform lives, developed the ‘Minimbah Project’ to provide 300 disadvantaged youth in Armidale with the birth certificate required for everyday necessities such as driver’s licenses, bank accounts, passports and other forms of identification.

Jason Artuso, ‘Minimbah Project’ leader at Enactus, said, “Many of us take birth certificates for granted but many disadvantaged youths in Armidale simply don’t possess this vital identification document. The ‘yes’ Optus Community Grants program is assisting us in rectifying this situation for many Armidale locals and we’re grateful for their help.”

Helen Maisano, Associate Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Optus, said, “The team at Enactus, through the Minimbah Project, is taking a big step towards providing the youth of Armidale with a brighter future and Optus is pleased to support their endeavours.”

The annual ‘yes’ Optus Community Grants program awards funding of up to $10,000 to not-for-profit organisations that help build social inclusion and reconnect disengaged youth in communities. Since 2008, Optus has awarded $880,000 in grants to 165 community organisations across Australia.

Carolyn Briggs, Principal of Minimbah Pre & Primary School Aboriginal Corporation, Jason Artuso, ‘Minimbah Project’ leader, and children and their families will be at the Minimbah Pre & Primary School Aboriginal Corporation this Wednesday for a meet and greet.

MEDIA EVENT:
WHEN: Wednesday 8 May, 2 – 2:45pm
WHERE: Minimbah Pre & Primary School Aboriginal Corporation, Galloway St, Armidale
WHY: Run through the objective of the project and how it has helped Armidale’s disadvantaged youth
ATTENDING: Carolyn Briggs, Principal of Minimbah Pre & Primary School Aboriginal Corporation; Jason Artuso, ‘Minimbah Project’ leader, Maja Popovic, Enactus representative, Will Winter, Project Partner, school children and John Welch, Optus

About Optus in the Community: For more information on the ‘yes’ Optus Community Grants program please visit https://www.optus.com.au/shop/aboutoptus/communitygrants

Media contact:
Julia Clarke
Fuel Communications
(02) 8217 6505