The annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion

Appeal has begun. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.

We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each family will receive a Project Compassion box for their donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au    

Second Week of Lent (school week beginning Monday 1st March)

This week through Project Compassion we learn about 39-year-old Margret, a teacher at a vocational school for deaf students in the Solomon Islands. She was born deaf, so she knows the challenges it poses to education and employment. Apart from the difficulties the students all have, the school also faced water shortages, with not enough to supply staff and students with safe water for drinking, cooking, washing and growing vegetables.

Then Tropical Cyclone Harold damaged the school and its vegetable garden, amidst the threat of COVID-19. Staff and students rely on the vegetable garden to provide food for their meals.

With Caritas Australia’s support, the school installed water tanks, provided cyclone-proof building materials and helped to implement COVID-19 prevention measures. Margret’s school now has enough water for its students and the capacity to cater for more, with plans to boost food security, through increased agricultural production. 

• Around 60% of people in rural areas in the Solomon Islands don’t have access to piped water, while about 80% don’t have access to latrines or toilets. (UNICEF, 2019)
• Watch a short film about Margret’s story here.

 “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

VINNIES KNOCK ON EFFECT

The Knock On Effect is a brand-new Vinnies initiative that will replace the Doorknock Appeal. Students are invited to come to school in casual clothes or #DressedbyVinnies for a gold coin donation. This special day is to raise awareness of the vulnerable people in our society and to fundraise for and support Vinnies and the people and communities they assist. 

We will celebrate this initiative on Friday 19^th March.

Bridgette McCann Acting REC