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Today we’re talking with ChildFund’s Bequest Executive, Martin Shields, about ‘Include a Charity Week’, Bequest Donations and why you should think about including ChildFund in your Will.

Martin, can you tell us a little about yourself and your experience?

I have worked in the Not for Profit sector for almost 20 years. Recently, I started as the Bequest Executive at ChildFund Australia and enjoy being in touch with our supporters who care so much about the children and young people that we support.

What is Include a Charity week all about?

The 6th-12th of September is ‘Include a Charity Week’. This week is all about encouraging every family to talk about their estate planning and whether including a charity in their Will is something they are interested in doing.

Include a Charity is a group of 100 charities that encourages everyday Australians to talk about leaving a gift in their Wills. These special gifts let us give support to communities around the world.

What is the theme for this year’s Include a Charity week?

This year’s theme is “When legends begin.” For many Australians, their family history, values, culture, and identity are important to them. You can immortalise those values by leaving a gift to a charity of your choice in your Will. By doing this your passions and interests will continue when you are no longer around. Your gift could inspire others to do the same.  You just need to go online and check out the interactive quiz that helps you explore who you are, your values and prompt you to think about what is important. What sort of legend are you?

How can people get involved?

It’s really simple! For information about leaving a gift in your will to ChildFund click on the link Leaving a Gift in your will to ChildFund.   

If you would like to have a friendly, confidential and obligation free chat, – give me a call on 02 8281 3117 or email mshields@childfund.org.au. 

Do I need to be wealthy to leave a gift in your Will?

No, not at all! ChildFund is grateful for every gift in a Will that we receive, no matter how modest. Every gift provides hope for a better future for 70 million children and young people across 23 countries.

What is a Will, and do I even need one?

Simply put a Will is a set of instructions that lets your executor and the people you care about know what to do with your assets (your estate) after you have died. This means that they can be confident that they are carrying out your wishes.

Do I need a Will to leave a gift to ChildFund?

Yes. Without clear instructions on what you want to happen, ChildFund will not receive anything after you have gone. The only way to be sure that ChildFund receives a gift is through a Will.

Why are Wills so lengthy and complicated? Can’t I make it simple?

In an ideal world, a Will would be simple. But, when a Will is made, no one knows what circumstances your executors and loved ones will face after you’re gone. Changes in your circumstances and the law could affect your estate and how it needs to be handled. To ensure that your executor can deal with your assets effectively, no matter what the circumstances, it is important that they have the powers to act in the best interests of your estate and beneficiaries.

How do I know that ChildFund will use my Bequest properly?

ChildFund always works with the executors or solicitors administering the estate to ensure that the wishes and instructions of the Will writer are followed – providing it is legally and ethically possible. 

So, this Include a Charity Week, have the conversation with your family and think about whether you would like to leave a Bequest to ChildFund Australia. If you would like to know more, please contact Martin at 02 8281 3117 or email mshields@childfund.org.au.

As children in the Cao Bang Province in Vietnam prepare to start a new school year, one father Nhinh Van Hoang, is gearing up for his third year as a teacher’s assistant.

The uncertainty of school closures due to COVID-19, has been a challenging experience for many teachers and parents, who have had to work together to guide children through lessons. Fortunately in Cao Bang, they’re able to return to the classroom.

Nhinh is part of the Hmong ethnic minority, and a father of three. Three years ago in 2019 he was invited by ChildFund Vietnam to participate in a group of parents who worked as teachers assistants in their local schools. Nhinh said he was happy and felt that his life had a new meaning.

When Nhinh first began volunteering as a teachers assistant at his local primary school, he was very shy. But after taking part in a series of trainings sessions organised by ChildFund, he became more confident with teaching and supporting children to learn in both the Hmong and Vietnamese languages.

The parents’ group also organised social events where they could get to know each other, share their experiences and talk about how best to support children’s learning at school and at home.

Three years later, Nhinh is now an experienced teachers’ assistant. He volunteers in a multi-grade classroom with 21 students – many of whom are from the Mong ethnic minority. Since many teachers do not speak Mong, Nhinh bridges the gap between teachers and students. “The teachers speak in Vietnamese and then I repeat in Hmong,” he says “I try to explain in the simplest way for children to understand.”

Nhinh is passionate about his role in the classroom. “Since becoming a teachers’ assistant, I have understood children better and learned the difficulties teachers face. Children like having assisting parents in class. They clap whenever they see us.”.

ChildFund Vietnam’s Confident to Reach Dreams project is working in six communes across the Cao Bang Province to establish Hmong teachers’ assistants in classrooms. This model helps to allow Hmong children to access an education in their language, and it empowers parents to be more involved in their children’s education.

This Father’s Day we’re celebrating dads  like Nhinh and there’s no better way to show your dad how grateful you are than by donating a charitable gift from ChildFund’s range of Gifts for Good on his behalf.

Not only will Gifts for Good bring a smile to your dad’s face, but it will also give him the opportunity to make a real difference in the world.

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