About Us
The Sixth Child (formerly SANCSS) was established in 2015 to support the 1 in 6 children in Australia who are living in disadvantaged circumstances.
Our work spans many areas including educational resources, health and recreation programs, cultural outreach, social justice advocacy and disaster relief, with an overarching focus on providing targeted help for the specific needs within a community. In this way, we are able to make a real and direct impact on young lives.
Our calling is to help any child who is suffering because they are disadvantaged economically, culturally or socially.
We are dedicated to providing assistance to any child aged 0-17 who needs us. Our motto is ‘if we can help, we will’. We work with a network of professionals who come to us with a need that has been identified within a community, and design solutions and projects on a case by case basis. Oftentimes this involves fulfilling an urgent need through material aid, as well as establishing programs that can be utilised autonomously within communities to bring about long term change.
Our vision is a world wherein ALL children have an equal opportunity to live happy, healthy and fulfilled lives, no matter their background or situation.
The Sixth Child is entirely volunteer run and made up of a team of people who are passionate about the care and well-being of children. We rely on donations of monetary funds and goods to continue our life-changing work. We are consciously committed to keeping administration costs as low as possible and avoiding bureaucracy, to ensure the highest value of contributions is directed to the work at hand.
CONNECTING
with children living in disadvantaged circumstances
FUNDRAISING
money to use where it’s needed most
ADVOCATING
for Youth Justice and long-term change
Our Mission Statement
To improve the lives of as many disadvantaged children as possible by providing support and resources that have a direct positive impact, because every child is important and worthy of their place in the world.
If you have ever experienced or witnessed childhood trauma or disadvantage, you would be aware of the significant impact it can have on someone – often right through to adulthood.
Growing up with instability all around me – first as a toddler in Civil War torn Mozambique, and then in politically charged and violent South Africa, I knew this first hand. These circumstances took their toll mentally and emotionally, but I was fortunate enough to have the support I needed to overcome these challenges. Sadly, many children in Australia don’t.
It’s been my life’s mission to help these children in need. After many years of working for various large charities, I had a vision for an organisation that operated differently – that wasn’t confined by bureaucracy, was able to advocate for those in need, and that had complete transparency of funding.
The catalyst to making this vision a reality came in November 2013 when, holidaying nearby, I witnessed Typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines, causing widespread devastation. I remember my heart breaking for all the children who would be affected. Being in such close proximity, I offered my services, and was able to do a two-week stint with community leaders, training them on how they could support the children during the difficult days ahead.
Buoyed by the success of this spontaneous project, I then set about helping local disadvantaged children and communities closer to home, and with the help of friends and family, officially established SANCSS Australia in 2015. Since then, we’ve carried out numerous projects and provided support to thousands of children across Australia as well as in the Philippines, New Zealand, Fiji, Nepal and Papua New Guinea.
2020 marks a new era, as we reintroduce ourselves as The Sixth Child – but our unwavering commitment remains the same. I hope you’ll join us in our mission of helping kids everywhere.
Jaime Ramos
Founder
