On Tuesday 25th March, Jake F, Olivia H, Levi A, Susanna vP and Olivia K attended the Project Compassion Launch at Sacred Heart in Sorrento with Mr Bolding and Mr.P.
The schedule for the day included a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, the celebration of a Holy Mass, a delicious pancake morning tea and a Just Leadership workshop supporting Caritas Australia’s mission to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. The theme for Project Compassion in 2020 is to ‘Go Further Together’. Go further together is about how we can be successful; when everyone is looked after. We should work together as one human family so our sisters and brothers around the world don’t have to live in poverty.
Students listened to the story of Shirley from the Philipines. Shirley is a 36 year old indigenous woman who has worked hard to make things better for her family. Because Shirley is indigenous, she is often excluded from her community, which makes it difficult for her to see a doctor, go to school or get a job. We also heard from Barry, who is also an indigenous man who has had to overcome many of life’s challenges to become an inspirational father to his four girls and a leader in his community. Barry joined Red Dust Healing, which is a cultural healing program, designed and run by First Australians. The Red Dust Healing program helps people find peace in themselves. It helps people find why they are feeling hurt and angry and provide the tools to talk about.
Unfortunately, there are many more stories like Shirley’s and Barry’s that are occurring everyday all over the world. The main message from the Leadership Workshop was for students to end poverty ‘with their own two hands’. Project Compassion isn’t just about slotting a silver coin in a box, it’s about understanding the stories of the people who are less fortunate than ourselves.
If you want to find out more about where your money will go this Lent, click on the link below.
Project Compassion
Mr Alex Paljetak
Assistant Principal