Transforming children's lives

ANTHONY SIM (OGC 1964), CHAIRMAN, UPENDO FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA

Ad Astra spoke with Anthony about his work to improve life outcomes for children in Africa through his foundation, Upendo..

In 1961, I began school at The Geelong College, where the opening of new science laboratories by Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies marked a departure from the school’s traditional architecture. That year, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to go into space and orbit the Earth in the Vostok 1 capsule.

Some of my teachers at the time were World War II veterans, and several were dealing with war-related traumas. Bullying and hazing were considered customary methods to toughen up new students.

Surviving the initiation process, I spent seven mostly happy years at the school, fostering a lifelong love for learning. After College, I attended Marcus Oldham College and graduated in 1972. Returning to our family farm, I pursued a career in farming but always felt there was more to life.

In 1996, I joined the Victorian Department of Agriculture as an Extension Officer and later as a Project Manager. During my time there, I dedicated my annual leave to volunteer work in developing countries through Australian Business Volunteers, teaching aspiring entrepreneurs’ basic business principles.

These experiences in places like Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and later Kenya opened my eyes to the stark disparities between our privileged lives in Australia and the daily struggles faced by our less affluent neighbours. With their limited material possessions, their ecological footprint was significantly smaller than ours. What struck me profoundly was their deep sense of

community, which was far superior to our own.

I witnessed all the men in a village coming together to build a house for a young man soon to get married, free from the burden of a lifelong mortgage, with the expectation that he would contribute to the community in the future. It was a stark contrast to the individualistic mentality in our developed society.

Additionally, I encountered coffee growers in the PNG Highlands whose livelihoods were already affected by climate change, despite their minimal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. This realisation emphasised how our actions in the developed world significantly impacted the lives of those maintaining traditional ways of life.

In 2013, my wife Annabel and I travelled to Tanzania to visit an orphanage established by my second cousin near Mount Kilimanjaro. Having witnessed the resilience of the children

and hearing their heart-wrenching stories, we soon became actively involved in running the Australian charity that funds the home. Over time, this initiative evolved into Upendo Foundation Australia, an NGO that currently provides care for 20 orphaned and homeless children in leased premises.

The stories of these children highlight the harsh realities they have endured, including abuse, abandonment, and being victims of witchcraft. Tanzania, one of the world’s poorest nations, lacks a social security safety net like Australia, and still faces challenges such as AIDS and high maternal mortality rates.

I’m now chairman of Upendo Foundation Australia. It’s a tax deductible charity which enables Australians to support these children and provides a nurturing home, a quality education and pathways to employment. This year we are raising

money to buy land and construct our own facility that will cater for more than double the current number of children.

Ecotours, Upendo Foundation offers safaris to Serengeti and other game parks, providing Australians with the opportunity to experience our work firsthand.

Through working with these remarkable children, I continue to learn the valuable lesson that giving to those less fortunate and witnessing their growth brings more joy and fulfillment than any career achievement or material wealth. These kids and our work with Upendo Foundation shape my perspective and fuel my unwavering commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.

To find out more: www.upendo.org.au or contact Anthony Sim: upendofoundation.anthony@gmail.com