This March, tens of thousands of Australians including students and community supporters will take action in an effort to make a difference on this situation. They will be fundraising for Caritas Australia’s international programs as part of the agency’s main annual appeal, Project Compassion.
San Clemente High School join in the Project Compassion campaign each year, and are passionate about raising awareness of those less fortunate around the world.
San Clemente’s 5th Annual Globally Called exhibition will be held on Wednesday 27 March from 12.30pm to 1.30pm at 78 Havelock St Mayfield.
Caritas ambassadors from Year 8 at San Clemente High School will share their understanding of inequality in communities around the world and how Caritas is helping to improve their livelihoods.
Everyone is welcome to attend. Email rose.mcallister@mn.catholic.edu.au to RSVP.
After the event, Dio Update (the diocesan e-newsletter) will have exclusive coverage and photos of the exhibition. Subscribe to Dio Update here.
16-year-old Peter goes to a boarding school in the Solomon Islands which has experienced water shortages for 60 years. Previously students would have to walk kilometres each day in search of clean water. This was particularly challenging for Peter who is living with a disability.
Peter’s mother left the family when he was little and has since passed away. His father decided to move from northern Malaita to Honiara, to better provide for his family. He arranged for Peter to stay with his aunt, then attend Aligegeo Secondary School.
Groundwater sources at the school have dried up and rainfall is unpredictable. Water in surrounding wells often made students sick or gave them rashes.
Caritas Australia, and partners Caritas Solomon Islands (CASI) and the Solomon Islands Government Rural Water Sanitation and Hygiene division (RWASH), have teamed up with the school to tackle the problem.
CASI provided a 90 kilo-litre water tank, electric pump and technical advice, while the Malaita Provincial Government contributed labour. Staff and students took part in training, dug trenches and are helping with a water management plan.
The school now has a safe, reliable water system, servicing around 1,000 people.
“Now we can stay at school to wash and not interrupt our official class time,” Peter says.
Peter hopes to focus on his education and to help others in future by working for an aid and development agency himself.
[i] World Health Organisation (WHO): Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. Available here.