The students at St Ursula’s College at Kingsgrove take their motto – I Will Serve – very seriously.
So much so they are one of the country’s highest money raisers in the 2018 annual Lenten fund and awareness-raising appeal, Project Compassion.
The college raised a whopping $8000 in just four weeks, well and truly smashing the average of $1900 per school.
Some of the fundraising initiatives included a sold-out run of shorts – designed and made by the students – decorating and selling nail files encouraging students to “Shape their Futures”, busking in the playground as well as sponsoring teachers to wear school uniforms for a day
St Ursula’s Youth Ministry Coordinator Antoinette Nader said service is at the heart of everything they do so raising money for Project Compassion was something the whole community embraced.
“The students here are Serviam women – women who challenge the norm and who are always called to be countercultural – to make a difference and serve the Lord, the community and our families,” she said.
“The students worked really hard to create community building activities that challenged our thinking and our hearts.
“To see the playground filled with young people singing and dancing at lunchtime, buying each others items and cheering each other on has been a wonderful experience.
“The incredible fundraising effort is a fitting reminder that young people have a wonderful capacity for empathy and a thirst for justice.”
Project Compassion is one of the major initiatives run by Caritas, the Catholic Aid Agency which has grown to become one of the world’s largest humanitarian leaders.
Supported by more than 1200 parishes and 1700 schools across the country, Caritas works in 27 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Pacific in addition to indigenous Australia. Caritas Australia spokeswoman Nicole Clements said the whole school community at St Ursula’s should be congratulated for its creativity and commitment to raising funds for Project Compassion.
“Project Compassion is an ongoing demonstration of faith and generosity,” she said. “Caritas is inspired by the lengths that students at St Ursula’s have gone to during this year’s Project Compassion campaign.”