Daramalan social justice initiatives focusing on people in need

Vice-Captain Social Justice, Kavinya Welikala at the Daramalan Opening Mass for 2019. Photo supplied.

Well before the new school year started, a group of Daramalan College students were planning how they would work to raise awareness among the broader school community about important Social Justice initiatives and the work of selected charities.

Led by the college’s Vice Captain Social Justice, Kavinya Welikala, they have embarked on further developing student participation in a wide range of events that support people in need.

Kavinya spoke to the students at the Opening Assembly for the year about what individuals and groups can do. Her message encouraged all students to get involved. She said, “We are extremely lucky to be brought up in Australia and to go to a school as supportive as Daramalan. Being blessed like this is a privilege and it is our duty to help those who are not as fortunate as us.”  

Archbishop Christopher Prowse will launch this year’s Project Compassion appeal for the Archdiocese during a Mass which will be celebrated at Daramalan College on Wednesday March 6. Following the launch Kavinya and the Social Justice group who will work to gain strong support for this very worthwhile cause across the school.

Other activities that will be supported over the first half of the year include Shave for the Cure and the Gift of Life Donate Life walk which was done in mid-February. In addition, each of the eight House groups have a charity for which they raise funds during the year and planning for these fundraising events will get underway soon. Kavinya is keenly aware that supporting charities is about more than just raising money.  She said, “It’s really important to give more than money to those in need. It is just as important to give our time, effort and understanding.”

Later in the year students will participate in the College’s annual Charity Walk which raises funds for Caritas Australia and the local St Vincent De Paul. These charities have been the recipients of all funds raised through the Charity Walk for well over ten years and these   organisations have developed strong links with the College as a consequence of this.

One of the activities that many students and staff love to support is the Vinnies Christmas hampers. Last year they assisted by filling two mini-buses with hampers full of donated food and gingerbread houses made by students.

With so many enthusiastic students involved in Social Justice and charity activities and events, 2019 is promising to be a year that shows real love in action.

Article supplied by Bernard Kane, Daramalan College.