Rice Day and Project Compassion

RICE DAY – 28 MARCH 2018

On Wednesday 28 March, at lunchtime the entire school community joined together to eat a simple meal of rice. This is a staple food for many people across the globe who have limited access to food and water. It was an opportunity to eat simply for one day during Lent and to show solidarity with those who may eat only this one simple meal every day. In sharing this meal we recognised in a very real way the needs of many. This meal inspires us to think globally and consider the work of Project Compassion, the agency who, every year, assists over 165 Catholic relief, development and social service organisations, working to build a better world for the poorest of the poor in over 200 countries and territories.

It was fabulous to see all our children sitting and eating in solidarity with the poorest of the poor. As a teacher reading the Year Six reflection of, “we now are starting to appreciate how lucky we are living in Australia” really epitomises our thinking that Australia is very much the “lucky country.”

We would like to thank the many parents of the school who supported this event. We understand that giving up a regular lunch can be difficult, but the feeling in the piazza whilst everyone was eating their lunch was one of immense joy.

A HUGE thank you must be given to Mrs Fran Ienco for the many hours of thoughts and planning that had gone into the organisation of this day. Thank you, Fran.

We also must thank the many parents who volunteered today. This day wouldn’t have been sosuccessful without their assistance. Thank you to Melissa Rechichi, Louise Staltari, Jessica Favaro, Jenny Allpike, Simone McGuire & Nicola Tutt.

We hope to count the money collected for Project Compassion once it has all been received at school and we will let you know the total amount after Easter.

Rice Day – Year Six Reflection

 Rice Day symbolises how we can show our understanding of people in other countries that are less fortunate than us. We ate one cup of plain steamed rice for lunch. We are very thankful and appreciative of Mrs Ienco, the parent helpers and the children from the Christian Service Ministry for making and delivering everyone’s rice.

The canteen members and the Christian Service Ministry worked together to achieve their goal of cooking and serving the school’s rice. We had several rice cookers in the canteen helping to prepare the rice for lunch. The Christian Service Ministry were assigned jobs such scooping rice, putting the lids on the containers and stacking containers in the baskets.  The children also delivered lunch to all the classrooms.  We now are starting to appreciate how lucky we are living in Australia.

SIXTH WEEK OF LENT

When Psyche Mae featured in Project Compassion during 2008, she was living in a squatter settlement, on the edge of a giant rubbish dump outside Manila in the Philippines. Her family was forced to pick through the rubbish to sell what they could to survive. Thanks to the support of individuals and Caritas Australia, in 2018, Psyche Mae is now a young social worker, achieving her dream of helping others struggling to leave poverty behind them, with plans to study a Master’s degree.

Please donate to Project Compassion 2018 and help improve the health and wellbeing of communities in the Philippines so they can work towards eradicating poverty, providing a just future for all.

A Just Future starts with your support! You can donate through Project Compassion boxes/envelopes, visit www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or phone 1800024413.