A little boy in Sierra Leone receives more than good vibes from workshop patrons after Being Well Healthcare in Prahran sponsored three-year old Faiya.

Faiya’s $39 per month sponsorship through Plan – one of the world’s largest children’s development organisation – is paid for from proceeds from the centre’s weekly wellbeing workshops.

Being Well Healthcare manager Dr Anthony Yeuong, who has been a Plan sponsor for two years, says the centre decided to donate 50 per cent of proceeds from the workshops because of its holistic philosophy.

“Well being is also about helping others and what better way to do this than to help a child in a developing country,” he says.

Dr Yeuong says the feedback, so far, from patrons when they learn that half of their fee is going to help improve circumstances for a little boy in Sierra Leone was one of surprise quickly followed by praise.

“Everyone benefits. This is a win win situation. People attending the workshops gain professional but affordable health advice from a range of experienced health specialists and the children in developing communities, especially, gain an opportunity to escape poverty.

“Faiya is from one of the poorest countries in the world. A country that has suffered years of civil war and for just a small contribution we can do something to help him have a better life,” Dr Yeuong says.

Dr Yeuong says 10 to 15 people presently attend each one-hour workshop at a cost of $10. Weekly topics include: Lose Weight and Live Well; Natural Methods of Conception and Fertility; and Stress Less and Relax.

However, the workshops have proved so popular that a larger venue seating 80 to 100 people had to be sourced and workshops will be held at this venue commencing in August, Dr Yeuong says.

“As the workshops grow in popularity, we hope to raise enough funds to sponsor up to ten children through Plan by the end of this year,” he adds.

Plan national executive director Ian Wishart says sponsoring a child for little more than $1 a day vastly improves the life of the child and benefits at least 100 other people in that child’s community.

“Sponsorship means a community receives regular funding and they can plan long-term development projects that deliver clean water and sanitation, healthcare, education, livelihood skills training and improvements to food production through agricultural resources and training,” Mr Wishart says.

Being Well Healthcare have also invited Plan to be part of their display stand at the Good Food and Wine Show at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from June 16 to 18.   

Sponsoring a child through Plan costs $39 per month and is tax deductible.