Religious Education and Social Justice

Season of Lent

During the Season of Lent we focus on raising money for Caritas Australia's Project Compassion. Donations boxes are on the Prayer Spaces in each Learning Community. The money rasied will be sent to Caritas Australia at the end of Lent to support the wonderful work they do in Australia and around the world.

Over the next few weeks we will feature the stories of people Project Compassion supports.

Sisilia's story, Tanzania

Sisilia is a 13-year-old girl living in remote Tanzania, who had to walk long distances to collect water every day. Thanks to Project Compassion, Sisilia’s school and village now have safe clean water close by and she can spend more time studying so she can fulfil her dreams of one day becoming a pilot. 

Life was not easy for Sisilia growing up.

Her father passed away when she was one, leaving her mother to care for her and her four siblings all on her own. 

Sisilia lives in a small, overcrowded house with only one bed, poor ventilation and no toilet. One of the main challenges she faced was access to clean and safe water.Sisilia fetched water three times a day, walking nearly 30 mins each round trip to collect water from a dirty canal. The water was not treated and Sisilia and her family would often get stomach problems like diarrhea. She would also often be late for class because she had to fetch water for home.  

“When I miss school, I feel bad. The time I use fetching water affects my studies since I'd fetch water instead of going to school,” Sisilia said. 

With the support of our partner in Tanzania, the Diocese of Mbulu Development Department (DMDD), Sisilia and her school joined the A+ Successor Project.   

The project has helped improve access to clean water at Sisilia’s school by installing clean water taps at the school. These taps have been a gamechanger for the school community. Children can wash their hands, drink clean water and water the school garden to grow food that they can eat for lunch. Through the project, Sisilia participated in a SWASH (School Water, Hygiene and Sanitation) Club where she learnt about the importance of handwashing at critical times, boiling unclean water before drinking and keeping the toilets clean.  

Jane Wilkinson

Religious Education Leader