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Michael Russell of St Patrick’s College, Sutherland, joined the Bidigal Dance Group on
stage
By Therese Spruhan
It was a day of breaking down stereotypes and sharing ideas when more than 400 students from Years 10
and 11 gathered at St Patrick’s College, Sutherland, for the inaugural Sydney Catholic Schools Social Justice Day.
“It was an inspiring day,” said Michael Russell from the host school, St Patrick’s. “There’s
nothing better than meeting other people and hearing their stories.”
“Living in Sutherland we don’t see every aspect of Sydney, so it was great to meet people from other areas and to recognise that Australia
is what it is because of its multicultural background. Being multicultural is the future of Australia, and it makes our country more exciting and interesting.”
Christine Quines and Ajda Ovat, of Trinity
Catholic College, Auburn, said the day made them more aware of all sorts of issues such as refugees and East Timor.
“We are now more able to imagine ourselves in other people’s shoes, and want to carry on
from today to do something,” they said.
For Anthony Sorial, Ashley Dennis, Mitch Brown, Roy Agostino, Mat Mesiti and Joe Mule from Marist College, Eastwood, it was great to share views with other students
their age.
“Everyone was very open and the message of the day was not to judge others by their looks, but be accepting and open and to go back to our schools and spread the word,” said the boys.
After
opening the day with Aboriginal dancing from the Bidigal Dance Group, Cath Leary, global education adviser with Caritas Australia, gave a stirring keynote address about East Timor.
Ms Leary, who returned
recently from three weeks in the new nation, had many confronting things to say about the freedom and opportunities we take for granted, about the suffering experienced by the East Timorese and the process of
rebuilding their country.
The situation was improving in East Timor, she said, but the suffering the people had gone through was incomprehensible; and they were still traumatised.
She added: “The East
Timorese have an opportunity to take control of their lives but it is up to organisations like Caritas, other non-government organisations and other governments to be there for East Timor.
“We need to be
careful not to impose our way of being in the world on them, but they need our solidarity – you and me remembering them and fighting for their causes – in the long road ahead.”
Actors Dennis and Tony from
Water Closet Productions reflected on what Ms Leary had said in mime and song.
Students shared their stories and comments about injustices they had experienced or witnessed in their own communities. They
voiced a strong feeling against the stereo typing of people, nationalities and communities.
Nha Minh Nguyen, of Patrician Brothers’ College, Fairfield spoke passionately about his suburb, Cabramatta, and the
reality of living there rather than the image of drugs and violence that is portrayed in the media.
“I have lived in Cabramatta almost all my life,” he said, “The reality is totally opposite to what is
portrayed in the media.
“Drugs and violence occur everywhere; every community has good and bad.
“When I hear the stereotypes in the media that you risk being shot outside your front door in
Cabramatta it makes me laugh. Cabramatta is not about drugs; it’s about multiculturalism and many cultures integrating in a peaceful way.”
Nha Minh said there had never been a day when he had walked to school
with the burden of being mocked for his race.
The spirit of Cabramatta was very strong, despite the prejudice people outside of Cabramatta have.
He urged students to transfer their injustices against
the media instead of having preconceived ideas about what the area was like when they knew nothing about it.
Fran Garcia, a teacher from Domremy College, Five Dock, spoke about the similar stereotyping that
her Colombian husband and his fellow Colombians experience.
She said Colombia was often stereotyped as a country of drugs. “While it does have that element, it is hard for Colombians here as that is often the
only focus that the documentaries cover,” she said. “So we need to think beyond the media images to the real people in that country.”
Other students shared their distaste for being stereotyped because of
their cultural background rather than being taken for who they are.
Students also spoke about the importance of challenging and questioning people who have racist views and of being open and understanding to
other people’s opinions and experiences.
“People should see you for who you are – it’s the person, not where you come from or what the minority from that country are like,” said Dorian Sarkissian of Patrician
Brothers’ College, Fairfield.
Maxwell Ababio, of Marist College, Kogarah, said we should be proud of all the backgrounds of people in Australia, as that multicultural aspect made us a unique country.
“Some of the countries with just two races are fighting,” he said. “In Australia we have hundreds of races and we have peace.”
Schoolmate Paul Tran made the important point that unless you are happy with
yourself you can’t help others. He said that up until quite recently he had not felt happy about himself because of a disability from polio.
However, his thinking had been turned around at his Year 10
retreat when he listened to a man who had no legs.
“I realised that I was a lot better off,” he said. “So when people tease me now, I just say: ‘Well, that’s just life’. But unless you are happy with
yourself, you can’t help others.”
Students took part in a number of workshops that covered a range of social justice issues such as refugees; reconciliation from a global point of view; the sterilisation of
the planet and the greening of the Church; fashion stinks – when it is made in a sweatshop; Australian military humanitarian operations in East Timor and Bougainville; making a difference at home by reaching out to
the poor and powerless in our own city; and social justice is more than just fundraising.
Hu Jazz, Alex Caltabiano, Joey Bonaccorci and Edward Hoang, Year 10 students at All Saints Catholic Boys College,
Liverpool, said their workshop with Judy Geppart, who has cerebral palsy, was inspiring.
“The sorts of things Judy has done just backs up that anything is possible,” said the boys.
They also thought the whole day was fantastic.
“It was great socialising with other students and hearing how other people think. It’s great to expand your horizons and broaden your ideas as there’s never a
limit on learning.”
Jennifer Courtenay, Catherine Purvis, Carolina Geronimo, Mimi Ly and Jodie Birks from Bethlehem College, Ashfield, added that it was good to come together and voice what they believe.
“It has alerted us to things that are going on in society and in the world and makes us want to be more active.”
The organiser of the day, Mark Woolford, a secondary adviser at the Catholic Education
Office (CEO), Sydney, said there was a wonderful feeling of unity, enthusiasm and energy among the students at the Social Justice Day.
He said the vision for the day grew out of a desire to keep the theme of
Jubilee justice going.
“The Gospel demands that we educate our students to make a difference in the world but to be able to do that they need to understand the underlying causes of injustices and from there
they can work to bring about change,” he said.
Mr Woolford said he was inspired that the students did care and that they were so sensitive about issues of justice.
“Often youth are spoken about as
being very ‘I’ centred, but they also have a deep sense of ‘other’ and of fairness which is an expression of their faith,” he added.
“The students had a strong sense of justice and compassion and showed that
they have taken the Gospel message on board and do want to see it lived out in the world.
“I am confident that they will return to their schools with renewed vision and commitment to work for justice and
compassion in their communities,” he said.
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