Justice

Refugee Week 17 - 21 June: “Finding Freedom – Family” 

Last Refugee Week, the Justice Group distributed homemade Afghan coconut cookies—a recipe we received from Maria, a refugee we met last year.  These cookies were given to students who attended a talk by Simon Capp, a volunteer from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.  During the talk, several significant points were highlighted, including:

 "Understanding Asylum Seekers and Refugees" - The discussion covered the difference between asylum seekers and refugees, the reasons people become refugees, and the importance of the UN convention.  

"Australian Law and Refugees" - Students engaged with the topic, learning about Australian laws related to refugees and asylum seekers. Clara, a Year 11 student, expressed her inspiration: “I felt motivated by the younger students’ interest in learning about this topic. It encouraged me to further educate myself.” 

Mercy Hub

Late last week, 12 Justice Group members joined students from Mercy Coburg, Our Lady of Mercy Heidelberg and St. Aloysius at the Mercy Hub.  Each group had the opportunity to converse with refugee women from diverse backgrounds.  They reflected on the concept of finding freedom and explored how family plays a role in this pursuit.

Following their discussions, the students shared a meal prepared by the women, featuring traditional dishes from Iran, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and other African countries.  

The experience allowed the girls to appreciate other cultures and understand the challenges faced by those who leave their homelands.  Harriet, reflecting on the conversation, recalled the wise words of the refugee she spoke to saying,  “We must find happiness in each day.”  

In addition to the interactive discussions, the Justice Group also shared facts, literature, and stories related to refugees’ experiences with the students and staff to engage in.  

To learn more about the wonderful things the Mercy Hub does in our community, please visit their website at https://www.mercyhub.org.au/  

To hear more about the amazing work of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, please visit their website at https://asrc.org.au/ 

St. Mary’s House of Welcome: Volunteering Opportunity 

In recent weeks, an invitation has been extended to Year 10 students over the age of 16 to join Year 11 and 12 students in volunteering at St. Mary’s House of Welcome.  Every Friday morning from 8.00am until 10.00am, students, accompanied by an Academy staff member, prepare and serve breakfast to over 50 clients in need.  This rewarding experience has led many students to volunteer regularly.  By participating, students embody the Mercy values through action. 

Australasian Mercy Schools Association (AMSSA) Conference: “Mercy: Pathways of Joy and Hope” 

This year, four Year 11 students—Eloise, Emma, Clara and Lucy—were selected to attend the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association (AMSSA) Conference held from June 24 to June 27.  The conference took place in Bendigo (Catherine McAuley College) and Kyenton (Sacred Heart College).  Traditionally held every two years, this gathering brings together students from Mercy schools across Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia to connect, meet and immerse themselves in the spirit of Mercy.  Due to the COVID pandemic, this conference had not been held until now.  Guided by the theme “Mercy: Pathways of Joy and Hope,” students embarked on a transformative journey.  Inspired by Catherine McAuley’s words—“we should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us”—they explored how acts of mercy illuminate the path toward joy and nurture hope within themselves and their communities.  Throughout the conference, students engaged in workshops, listened to inspiring speakers and participated in collaborative discussions. These experiences allowed them to discover the power of compassion in creating positive change. 

The program also included moments for personal growth, formation, and reflection, deepening their appreciation of the Mercy charism.  As the conference concludes, students will return to their home communities with a newly established network of fellow travellers on the Mercy pathway.  Notably, students had the privilege of hearing from inspirational speakers, including Sr. Sally Bradley of Mercy Works, Sr. Margaret Moore of Mercy Hub, the Programs Coordinators of Young Mercy Links in Victoria and South Australia and an inspiring refugee from Myanmar, Laila.  

AMSSA Group with Sr Sally Bradley

Workshops hosted by Young Mercy Links provided insights into Mercy Charities and Organisations, such as McAuley Services for Women and ACRATH in a hands-on manner. Students packed bags for women escaping domestic violence, contributing and participating in a clothes swap to help break the chains of modern slavery, cooked with a refugee and assembled birthing kits for women in countries that do not have sanitary spaces to birth their children.  The girls and I would also like to thank Kelli and Sangeeta, both parents of Academy girls, for making and donating tote bags for our justice students to take to the AMSSA Conference. 

 The bags were filled with toiletries and other goodies by the students at the conference, for women seeking assistance from McAuley Services for Women, a Mercy Charity dear to the Academy.  Additional thanks is extended to Sangeeta who also donated beanies.  Emma, Clara, Eloise and Lucy wish to share Laila’s story with you. 

In 2013, Laila and her family fled Myanmar due to the increasing population of people living in poverty and the military occupied government that displayed discriminatory behaviour towards people of Muslim faith.  They arrived in Australia via boat, shortly after June 2013, when both Labor and Coalition issued that any asylum seekers who travel by boat to Australia would be unable to gain permanent residency.  Once arrived, Laila and her family were detained at the Nauru Island Detention Centre.  They were held there for five years, and through the help of the Save the Children Foundation, they were able to receive basic education and a knowledge of the English language, though this was minimal. 

Once they were released in 2018, they lived in Adelaide, where Laila began high school at a Mercy School.  When she turned 18, she had to fight to continue her education, due to the stipulations of her Visa, despite the fact that it is a stated UN human right that every individual should have access to education.  With the help of her Mercy School, Laila was able to complete her high school diploma.  The support shown from her Mercy School inspired her to join Young Mercy Links, and ignited her desire to study nursing.  However, the same stipulations that disrupted her Year 12 experience has also prohibited her from pursuing this study.  This is especially heartbreaking as Laila has been offered a scholarship to study, but this possibility has been taken from her due to the injustices of the law. 

Ms Mel Sachanandani

Justice Leader