CABARITA MUM TAKES ON MARATHON CHALLENGE TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY

BY SARAH WATERS

PREVENTING African children from a poverty- stricken life will be all the motivation Cabarita

Application for Appointment of Board Members

The Channon Public Hall Reserve Land Manager

Ever wondered who is responsible for keeping Crown reserves operating?

Countless facilities like showgrounds, local halls and parks are run by Statutory Land Manager Boards, made up of people just like you. People who understand the need and have a desire to manage public land and assets for the beneft of the entire community.

Your role as a Board Member is voluntary, but the rewards of giving something back to the community are priceless.

We are looking for a good mix of people with a variety of skills, however, sound business and fnancial management skills and objective decisionmaking expertise would be a distinct advantage.

Don’t let this opportunity to do something for yourself and your community pass you by – contact us today.

The The Channon Public Hall Reserve Land Manager manages the Reserve No. 88821 at The Channon notifed on 12-Jan-1973 for Public Hall Site, Reserve No. 140076 at The Channon notifed on 31-Jul-1992 for Rural Services, Environmental Protection, Public Recreation. The term of appointment will be for a period not exceeding 5 years.

Application for membership can be made via portal.crownland.nsw.gov.au

All applications are required to be lodged by 21 August 2023.

For further information contact: Debbie Higgins on (02) 6591 3574 or go to reservemanager.crownland.nsw.gov.au mother Hannah Easton needs as she traverses through the vast plains of Kenya this weekend.

The former sponsored runner and motherof-four will lace up her shoes at almost 40-years-of-age to run in One Heart’s Run From Poverty marathon in Kenya.

One Heart is an Australian founded notfor-profit organisation, which empowers vulnerable children in East Africa to fulfil their potential, so the poverty cycle is broken.

Mrs Easton has always been involved in charitable organisations, and after a fortuitous meeting last year she took on the role of general manager of One Heart.

She hopes to raise at least $15,000 for the foundation and she knows every dollar will make a difference.

“I had a life-defining moment in South Africa when I was 18,” Mrs Easton said.

“Since then, I have been determined to live my life with open hands - whatever I have in my hands, I want to use it to better the lives of people in front of me.”

Mrs Easton has spent the past six months training for the marathon to ensure she is ready for the challenging conditions in Kenya.

She will join about 300 other participants from across the world, running at altitudes of 1800 - 2000ft while pacing along red dirt and navigating the many potholes along the way.

“This run is going to challenge me more than any run I’ve ever done, but I’ve always had a including Olympic Kenyan runners, who will start the race in the village of Turbo.

Children from the One Heart village and local schools will run barefoot alongside the participants for the first few kilometres of the marathon.

The course will take runners through the undulating and semi-arid landscape of Kenya in a large loop and return to the village where children will eagerly cheer everyone over the finish line.

The hardest part for participants will be passion for empowering people and that is my motivation for doing this,” Mrs Easton said. The story of a young girl named Sharon who came into the care of One Heart when it was first founded in 2007 will be at the forefront of Mrs Easton’s mind while she runs.

Sharon, aged six or seven at the time, was abandoned by her impoverished mother.

Members of One Heart came across the girl on the streets and took her into their care, providing her with the continued care and skills she needed to thrive.

Now, 16 years on, she has finished her schooling, furthered her education and has a bright future ahead of her.

Mrs Easton said One Heart works to holistically tackle the root causes of poverty that deny children basic rights.

“When they come into the care of One Heart, the children are cared for as the unique individuals they are - they are seen, known and loved.

“For those who are school-aged, they’ve usually missed a significant portion of school, or never been to school.

“Their physical health is compromised, and they have little to no joy or hope.

“They are provided with a nurturing environment, with an education that matches the level they’re at and access to healthcare (physical & mental).

“You can see over the 16 years it’s not a quick fix, it’s a huge investment to transform these children’s lives.

“I look at the story of the young girl Sharon who came into One Heart’s care and say all these kids they deserve that story of been taken out of a life trajectory that has zero hope and instead put on a path where they can fulfill their potential.”

At the end of the race, One Heart will host a large community event which will be attended by government dignitaries, including the first lady of Kenya Rachel Ruto, members of schools and local villages.

One Heart will engage the community in the work they’re doing and connect with local people. to clean water and sanitation they’re likely to be unwell a lot of the time because of the diseases there and it has a flow on effect … then they can’t go to school and they’re going to miss out on their education, which then flows onto their ability to get employment.”

Local people run all of One Heart’s projects in Kenya, as well as Uganda and Tanzania.

Mrs Easton said it was important to contextualise the work the charity is doing, and not implement a Western mentality of ‘if it can work here, it should work there’.

“It’s a completely different environment.

“The cultural dynamics around education and employment are very different to over here.

“They don’t have access to the range of training options that we do here, it’s all academic and performance focused, if they don’t achieve high enough grades, they’re not actually allowed to progress through the schooling system.

Funds raised from One Heart’s Run From Poverty will continue to develop One Heart’s sustainable projects in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The last time the race was held in 2020 it raised close to $170,000.

To support Hannah Easton you can donate via www.mycause.com. au/p/303132/hannaheaston

One Heart is an Australian founded not-for-profit organisation working in East Africa with a holistic, sustainable and entrepreneurial model.

One Heart opened its first village in Kenya in 2007 and currently has more than 400 children in its homes, schools and programs which provide healthcare services, education, proper nutrition and sanitation to create safe living environments that allow for family reintegration.

“Without proper access

For further information on Run From Poverty visit www. runfrompoverty.com.au.

One Heart also provides employment opportunities for locals and direct financial support to families with the aim of in-country social enterprises that generate income, skills and training, removing donor dependence over time and increasing self-sufficiency.

Read more at https:// oneheart.com