St Joseph's College, Echuca

Justice News

ACRATH

As you are no doubt aware, St Joseph’s has been a supporter of ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans) for some years now.

We support their mission to eliminate human trafficking and the harm it causes, in Australia, the Asia Pacific region and globally, and run a number of awareness campaigns each year, including our annual Buy Slavery Free Easter Chocolate campaign.

 

World Day Against Child Labour occurs on June 12, and ACRATH has been running a ‘Take Action In June’ campaign to highlight the plight of working children and to ask for donations to continue this work. 

 

 

A 2022 International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNESCO report, The role of social protection in the elimination of child labour: Evidence review and policy implications, indicated that 1 in 10 (160 million) children aged 5 or over were involved in child labour worldwide at the beginning of 2020. Since then the COVID-19 pandemic has left more children vulnerable. It is likely that by the end of 2022 the number of children in child labour could rise by 8.9 million.

If you would like to HELP ACRATH TO:

  • Make this invisible crime visible – especially in Australia and our Asia/Pacific region
  • Provide direct services to the women, men and children who have survived trafficking and slavery
  • Establish sound rehabilitation, repatriation and reintegration practices for survivors and their families
  • Set in place effective national and international networks and so challenge this crime that is world-wide
  • Continue to lobby and advocate at State, National and International Government levels

Please go online to https://acrath.org.au/donate/. ACRATH has Deductible Gift Recipient status. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

 

More information about World Day Against Child Labour and the ‘Take Action In June’ campaign can also be found at https://acrath.org.au/ 

 

Refugee Week

 

Next week (June 19 - 25) we will be celebrating Refugee Week. We will spend the week informing students, staff and our community about refugees and celebrate positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society.

 

During Refugee Week our aim is:

  • to educate about who refugees are and why they have come to Australia
  • to help people understand the many challenges refugees face coming to Australia
  • to celebrate the contribution refugees make to our community
  • to focus on how the community can provide a safe and welcoming environment for refugees
  • for community groups and individuals to do something positive for refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people.

In doing so, we support BASP (The Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project) one of Kildare Ministries‘ Community Works. BASP was co-founded by Sr Brigid Arthur and Sr Catherine Kelly in 2001. 

 

“I was a stranger, and you made me welcome”. Matthew (25:35)

 

You may have noticed in the news recently that Sr Brigid continues to work tirelessly with refugees and was recognised for this work with an AO (Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia) in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

 

 

 

“We believe that if you’re going to really be Christian, then you must be kind to the outsiders and the vulnerable people.” - Sr Brigid.

 

BASP relies on donations and volunteers’ work to provide accommodation, food, employment, financial support and help with visa applications. St Joseph’s College is this year collecting donations to purchase Myki Cards and phone cards for BASP clients. 

 

If you would like to contribute to the work of BASP (Sr Brigid estimates that she has assisted thousands of asylum seekers over the past 30 years) please use the online portal.

 

A letter will be published on Operoo next week with options to pay and a link to the online portal. 

 

All donations are tax deductible and the payment process will generate a receipt for you.

We thank you for giving generously to BASP.

 

Claire Hogan

Justice Education Coordinator