Vale Emil Kogan
25 September 2012 at 11:43 am
The Not for Profit sector and Pro Bono Australia are mourning the passing of former team member and charity founder, Emil Kogan who died at the weekend at the age of 25.
Emil started up two NGOs while he was at University: Embrace Education and Students Teaching English to the World. He had worked in publicity and marketing for a range of Not for Profits and NGOs in the Melbourne region, including The Big Issue, Hootville Communications and Jewish Aid Australia.
Emil was part of Pro Bono Australia’s administration team before heading to Canberra to work with the Australian Electoral Commission and then Red Cross but he also wrote a number of articles for our News Service using his Not for Profit experience. He was also featured as one of Pro Bono Australia’s Changemakers.
Emil said he was drawn to the Not for Profit sector “because of the incredibly beautiful human beings who go out of their way to heal others, their communities and the world”.
The Embrace Education charity is a registered Not for Profit university-student run organisation that provides free services to disadvantaged high school students in Melbourne, Victoria. The program was started in late 2006 by a group of young Monash University students including Emil and obtained Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status in 2009.
Their aim is to support the ongoing education of disadvantaged high-school students, especially students from a recent migrant or refugee background. The main focus of the program is on providing students with free tutoring and mentoring from University student volunteers. This occurs through several programs including the Embrace “Homework Clubs”, “In-School Tutoring” and “Individual Tutoring.”
Emil had also worked overseas in Manila, Philippines for Bahay Tuluyan, an NGO that works with children in need of special protection as part of the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development program.
“Emil was a delightful, smart, generous and kind person. We loved working with him. As anyone who knew him will know, he gave a huge amount to the people around him,” Pro Bono Australia Founder Karen Mahlab said.
“We will miss his presence on this planet and send all our love to his family during this awful time.”
Emil struggled with mental illness for some time. Anyone needing help should contact:
Inspire www.inspire.org.au
Sane www.sane.org/
Lifeline www.lifeline.org.au/
beyondblue www.beyondblue.org.au
I am so sad to hear if Emil’s death he was an amazing young man. I met him through his work with EmbraceEducation when he started up university support for our refugee students and families at Springvale secondary College in 2006. he was very passionate about this work and was only 19 at the time. there are many families who will be greatful for his extraordinary drive and compassion at such a young age. he was a shing light who will be sadly missed. May his dear soul rest in peace. Long life to his family may they be smothered in live at this time .