The Pyjama Foundation
Are You an Angel in Disguise?
BY BONNIE LAXTON-BLINKHORN, KINDICARE
Every hour two vulnerable children enter foster care in Australia, and these children often end up with poor literacy and numeracy skills, which can contribute to a lifetime of disadvantage.
Statistics show that there are around 46,000 children in foster care around the country, and 92% of children in care are below the average reading age at age 7, while 75% of those in care do not complete 12 years of schooling.
Alarmed by these figures, Bronwyn Sheehan founded The Pyjama Foundation in 2004, to give children in foster care the opportunity to change the direction of their lives through learning, and by proving support for them to develop life skills, and confidence.
“Education equates to quality of life. The reason I started The Pyjama Foundation is that my oldest daughter Kate went through primary school with a child in care. I met her foster carer and was blown away by her commitment to these children. This lady had been a carer for 30 years and had had over 100 children in her home,” she says.
The Pyjama Foundation supports children in care through a simple program known as the Love of Learning Program, which matches volunteers, known as Pyjama Angels, with a child in care.
Pyjama Angels spend one hour per week with their little side kick in their foster home engaged in fun learning based activities which aim to instil in them a lifelong love of learning.
Depending on the age and stage of the child, these activities could include reading stories or helping them with their reading and writing, but the most important thing is that these activities are undertaken with consistent love and support.
“Pyjama Angels give a foster child the chance to find their wings and reach their life potential, despite a fragile start,” says Bronwyn.
Pyjama Angels involved in the Love of Learning Program report a range of significant benefits with 83% observing a significant improvement in the child’s reading ability and more than 84% noticing an improvement in the child’s ability to concentrate and a more positive attitude to learning.
Could you be a Pyjama Angel?
A Pyjama Angel’s role is to provide consistent love and support, and most importantly, instil a love of learning among children in foster care. No experience is necessary, but there are a few terms and conditions you must meet, which you can read about here.
Importantly, all volunteers must complete a screening process to ascertain their suitability to be a Pyjama Angel and this includes a written application, a face-to-face interview, referee checks and training.
If you are keen to support The Pyjama Foundation, but aren’t ready to sign up as a Pyjama Angel then you might like to get involved in the National Pyjama Day campaign which runs through until the end of September.
