AQUINAS College, Ashmore, has established what it calls an exciting project as it enters a pertnership with the Yos Sudarso High School in Sokaraja, Central Java, Indonesia.
Aquinas campus minister Oblate Father Pat MacAnally and principal Maryanne Finder recently visited Yos Sudarso to sign a memorandum of understanding with the principal there John de Britto Sukoto.
The agreement is designed to heighten the missionary character of Aquinas College.
Assistant principal for religious education Bryan Foster said Fr MacAnally established Yos Sudarso High School as one of many during his 25 years as a missionary in Indonesia.
He said the project would involve staff and students from Aquinas immersing themselves in the culture and realities of life of the school in Sokaraja.
“The one-month immersion experience will involve an exchange of staff and students from both schools in Term 2 and Term 3 in 2010,” Mr Foster said.
“Aquinas College will al-so assist Yos Sudarso High School in the establishment of a vocational training centre which will assist young Indonesians to find work placement.
“There will also be a sharing of curriculum and technology expertise.”
Mr Foster said students would have the opportunity to develop a deep appreciation of an
indigenous culture very different from their own.
“They will learn about, and may be confronted by, the huge disparities in wealth between their own lifestyle and that of the communities with whom they engage,” he said.
“They will begin to critique these realities from a perspective of justice and the Gospel.”
Mrs Finder said this authentic immersion experience would deepen the students’ spirituality and strengthen their passion for social justice while promoting the idea of community service.
“There is no limit as to what can be achieved with such an invaluable partnership that will enrich our Aquinas students in a true spirit of Christian solidarity,” she said.
