Catholic Identitiy

Just Leadership

Last Tuesday, our Social Just leaders along with a couple of ring-ins, attended the Just Leadership gathering for our area. Our students were joined by groups from Our Lady’s and St Patrick’s Primary School in Wangaratta, with the day being held in our school hall.

The day started slowly but soon enough the students began to share and discuss their ideas and observations. Kerry Stone from Caritas, worked with the students first to establish what is a good leader and who is a good leader. Students also learnt more about the issues that face the poor of our world and what Caritas has been able to do to help.

A truly gobsmacking moment was when Kerry tipped out 100 old Project Compassion boxes on the floor and asked the students to imagine these as the wealth of the world and how might that wealth be shared amongst its people. We were all shocked to realise that the majority of the world lives in poverty and that we are part of the very well off.

The group then roleplayed addressing the issue of access to water in Chad and how that might be done. The leader, Oscar, gathered with the people and they talked through the issues. A decision was made to bring water to the village with pipes. In this scenario, Caritas was asked to help. Local people were employed, and the job was completed. The access to water improved health and access to food. Extra produce was sold at the markets, and the extra money was used for education and other needs. Life improved greatly.

Students were able to see how they could take action to help create a fairer world and a healthier planet. They also learnt that activities for fundraising that build solidarity with the people we want to help is very powerful. ‘Walking in someone’s shoes’ builds empathy and helps us to understand the day-to-day needs of the people that Caritas reaches out to, so as to give them a ‘hand up’.

Students worked through some of the issues of poverty as they put together a poster.

A big thank you to Kristyn McAsey who organised snacks and lunch on the day. 

The pizza was tasty!