Brisbane Catholic schools have once again embraced Caritas Australia’s annual Project Compassion appeal.
From cakes to popcorn to free -dress days, schools have been creative in organising activities to raise awareness of and funds for the poor of the world.
Schools such as St Michael’s College, Carrara, and Our Lady Help of Christians, Hendra, chose to stand in solidarity with the poor by holding Rice Days.
At St Michael’s College students bought small bowls of plain rice for a gold-coin donation to highlight the only daily meal many of the world’s poorest can afford.
Students were enlisted to help prepare the rice needed to feed up to 500 people and raised $260 from the awareness campaign.
At Our Lady Help of Christians, Hendra, the school shared their simple meal of boiled rice during first break on March 21 the same day Harmony Day was celebrated.
Assistant principal for religious education (APRE) Sue Williams said the meal was a humbling experience and symbolised oneness with those who had little to eat.
Students at Our Lady’s College, Annerley, chose the traditional Lenten Friday fare of fish for one of their fundraisers.
Campus minister Margareta Lemon, said “Fish Friday” on March 16 was an exciting way to bring awareness to the students about the realities the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities faced each day.
“Catholics traditionally forego meat on Friday’s in Lent but ‘Fish Friday’ takes it one step further by inviting people to stand in solidarity with millions of people in the developing world who survive on a staple diet of fish and rice,” Mrs Lemon said.
She said getting involved in “Fish Friday” was a practical way of helping people to understand the lives of those in countries where food security was a challenge.
“Just $10 could provide a year’s supply of text books for two Burmese students in a community-based learning centre on the Thai-Burma border and $30 could supply three chickens for a family in Zimbabwe,” she said.
Mrs Lemon said more than three billion people lived on less than $2.50 a day, and Our Lady’s College, Annerley, was committed to doing something about it.
“The funds raised will assist Caritas Australia to work in partnership with communities to improve their own lives through projects which focus on education, health, water, income generation and sustainable agriculture,” she said.
“The staff and students of Our Lady’s College, Annerley, are helping to make this vision a reality when they enjoy a simple meal, so others can simply live.”
