Diane's Story
“For the children, the Breakfast Club is not just about having something healthy to eat, but being able to socialise and talk about things they can’t in class.”
Diane smiles as she says these words. She is one of the supervisors (and a mum herself) who works 3 mornings a week running a breakfast club for children at a local primary school.
Diane grew up in a high-rise estate in inner Melbourne. She left school at 15, and married at 16. Her life as a stay at home mum to four children has meant little opportunity for employment; money was always tight and things were hard.
As her children grew, life became more of a struggle. Just getting the children ready for school became a challenge, and they were often running late. This is a common situation for many in Diane’s local area, which is one with a high number of sole parent families, a high unemployment rate and little public transport or facilities. Many residents also experience isolation and disconnection as a result of cultural and other issues, and little knowledge of health and nutrition.
Melbourne Citymission, working with local schools, introduced a program designed to bring the community together. It combined improving the education and welfare of local children, with providing a source of employment for local parents, leading to further education and employment opportunities.
Regular latecomers of the past are now always on time - for breakfast, and for classes. Schoolwork and results have picked up. The children learn about good nutrition, instead of snacking on high fat, high sugar foods. They are visibly healthier and happier, enjoying not only the food but also the social benefit of sitting round a table together, talking and sharing with each other.
Diane has now gained the confidence and ability to act as a supervisor of the Breakfast Club. It’s opened the door to other opportunities; she has now enrolled in a Hospitality and Small Business Course, which will improve her skills and earning potential.
Diane says “I was reluctant at first, but I have gained a lot of confidence from being part of the working group”
Breakfast Clubs work towards strengthening the local community- bringing previously disconnected people together for positive change.
We need to sustain and grow our Clubs - to reach out to more communities which are disadvantaged by high unemployment, little public transport, and few facilities - places where children are still going to school hungry every day.
