About
Established in 1999, the KARI Foundation has long supported Aboriginal Australians, who make up the various Indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands. After 17 years of success, in 2016 the KARI Board of Directors agreed to create the official KARI Foundation, understanding more could be achieved with increased collaboration between state and federal governments, Corporate Australia and Collective Australia.
With a multitude of focus areas including the arts, sports, business, education and family support (among others), the KARI Foundation designs, supports and delivers programs that strengthen Aboriginal culture to drive belonging, connection and a sense of community for everyone.
How is BCD getting involved?
The funds received from the John & Marine Vlissingen Foundation will go towards three major educational programs. The first program is the “Kindy Backpack Program”. This assists families with children entering kindergarten by supplying them with backpacks filled with essential resources and aims to provide one free essentials backpack to every Aboriginal child entering kindergarten. This helps ensure a smooth start to their school journey and equitable access to educational materials for Aboriginal students.
The second program helps students transitioning to high school by providing one free backpack with essentials to every Aboriginal child entering Year 7. The backpacks are designed to be culturally appropriate for the targeted students, with Aboriginal artwork by artist Danielle Mate.
The funds will also support many scholarship programs tailored to Aboriginal students. These scholarships incorporate cultural elements by fostering pride and resilience within Indigenous communities. With a goal to invest in Aboriginal education, leaders hope these scholarships will help break cycles of poverty and empower students to become positive role models, driving long-term change.
