For several years now the Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEFA) has enjoyed a very positive and productive relationship with Outward Bound Australia. CEFA helps rural and remote Australian communities establish local education foundations that raise funds to provide grants to young members of these communities to assist in their pursuit of important life, vocation or further education goals. Young people who would otherwise not have been able to achieve their dream due to the challenges of remoteness and financial need.

One of the important life opportunities that CEFA keenly support is Outward Bound. Together with Outward Bound's financial assistance we have been able to make such an invaluable and life changing opportunity available to many young people from our member communities.

The impact that Outward Bound's programs have on participants is immeasurableand lifelong. I recently met with one young man who grew up in Cowra, NSW andhad been given the opportunity to attend Outward Bound through the local CowraCountry Education Foundation some five years ago. Matthew's father had passed away a few years before and his mother was trying as best she could to raise two children on her own. Money was scarce but there was no shortage of love. Even so, Matthew's life started to spiral out of control and he was drinking heavily and making many wrong decisions in life and many around him feared for his future.

Together, CEFA and Outward Bound got Matthew into their program and gave him back his life, a life now full of achievement and success stories. Matthew picked up his saxophone shortly after completing the course and started practicing again. With our support he is now studying music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with the goal of being one of the world's best sax players and also teaching in country schools. He wants to give other young people like him the gift of a positive future, just like he was given. Matthew assures me that had it not been for Outward Bound, he would not be in such a positive position with life skills that will take him through life. Outward Bound also taught him to consider others and what he can contribute to their lives.

Matthews story is one of many I have come to know and was made possible throughthe support Outward Bound provides CEFA with by way of part orfull scholarships.Outward Bound has a solid and well refined selection process that ensures that both aspiring leaders make it into their programs as well as kids like Matthew, kids who need a chance to get their life back on track. 

I can not speak highly enough of the quality of programs Outward Bound offer andurge you to support them generously so that together we can continue to offer people like Matthew a real future, one full of self directed achievement and happiness.

Yours sincerely

Jocellin Jansson

Executive Director and Board Member

Country Education Foundation of Australia

P.O. Box 239, Yass N.S.W. 2582

Phone (02) 6226 1933 Fax (02) 6226 2l15