Back to School Provides a New Way of Learning for Students Benefiting from a Citi Foundation and Learning Links Partnership

Citi Australia and Learning Links are set to launch an online numeracy program for children, aged seven to 10, who have difficulty with learning. “Counting for Life Online” will link the children via Webcam with Citi mentors in a 10-week trial in Sydney and Melbourne.

The Term 2 pilot commences with Citi employees mentoring students from Richmond West Primary School in Melbourne, and in the Marrickville and Balmain Public Schools in Sydney. Volunteers will log in to a secure Internet site and use Webcam and headphones to see and hear their counting buddy. The sessions will be supervised by teachers and parents.

Dr Danielle Tracy, manager of Counting for Life, said the expansion of the program to an online platform provided the introduction of several unique elements to the learning experience. “This adds a most important ingredient - fun! And although the trial will concentrate on metropolitan schools, our long-term goal is to work with kids in regional and remote areas who don’t usually have access to corporate volunteers to help them with their learning.”

Citi Australia employees have been supporting student mentoring programs for a number of years, and the opportunity to do something different has been met with great enthusiasm.

“Our community programs are focused on supporting children from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly in helping them to achieve their potential,” said Citi Australia Head of Corporate Affairs Maggie Grady. “We are delighted to develop and implement this unique learning experience with Learning Links, and the Citi mentors are looking forward to seeing some great results.”