The philanthropic division of Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS), the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF), recently achieved a remarkable fundraising milestone of raising over $12,000 for its Refugee Bursary program.

In support of the CEF, more than 100 employees from SCS’s World Square office participated in the ‘Walk for a Refugee’ initiative, aimed at increasing awareness and raising much-needed funds to provide refugee students with the opportunity to access a Catholic education.

Volodymyr, a Year 5 student at Regina Coeli Catholic Primary School Beverly Hills, is among the refugee students receiving ongoing assistance from the CEF.

Hailing from conflict-ridden Ukraine, Volodymyr, along with his two sisters and mother, relocated to Australia seeking refuge from the war and aiming for a brighter future.

During this period, the CEF provided direct assistance to Volodymyr and his sisters to study at Regina Coeli Catholic Primary School, where dedicated and hard-working educators deliver a strong faith-based education.

“The CEF gave me a scholarship so I could receive the opportunity to learn here in Australia.

“Because we are part of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, my parents wanted me to study with children who have a similar religious background to me, learn by God’s example and have faith in everything I do,” Volodymyr said. 

The CEF’s assistance for Volodymyr goes well beyond covering his tuition fees. 

A portion of the funds generated from the ‘Walk for a Refugee’ initiative was allocated to purchase a MacBook Pro, providing additional support for his educational journey.

CEF Supervisor, Kathleen Badolato elaborates on why such a significant number of the wider SCS team passionately support its initiatives.

“Our staff are motivated by the opportunity to contribute to the lives of students that we work for every day, and bond as …