SoJuSt - Social Justice and Stewardship

This year the Social Justice team had to think creatively and flexibly. While not all the events of previous years have run much has been achieved, and perhaps, even more.

In Term 1 sales of pancakes and Casual Dress for a Cause day raised over $1,200 for Project Compassion. The funds go to Caritas Australia and are distributed nationally and globally to fund a range of community run development projects as defined by the communities themselves.

In late February, Year 12 Catholic Action Program (CAP) students, in partnership with the Shire of Yarra Ranges hosted a screening of the documentary 2040. The film looks at what positive action can be taken to ensure a healthy, thriving planet by 2040. Filmmaker Damon Gameau was present for a Q&A session and there were many probing questions from students and community members keen to make positive change.

CAP students were also lucky in Term 1 to squeeze in one St Vinnies Soup Van - Student Street Retreat. Six Year 12 students were able to join the Vinnies Fitzroy Soup Vans on their city run. Students engaged in conversation and banter as they handed out care packs and other items to people experiencing homelessness.

While we were not able to do our usual drive for food items for Tinnies for Vinnies, the Social Justice Captains and the CAP class organised another Casual Dress for a Cause day and bake sale and were able to gift twenty five $50 food vouchers to the Vinnies Belgrave Chapter. The vouchers were then distributed to local families who were experiencing hardship so they could buy food items of their choice. Before the Tin Shed was required to close, a small group of CAP students served a two-course meal prepared by VCAL students to Belgrave locals looking for a meal and some company.

VCAL students also maintained connections with Vinnies as they provided fortnightly supplies of brownies that were distributed by the Fitzroy/City Monday Soup Vans. As physical outreach was not possible after the second lockdown, students discovered other ways of demonstrating acts of kindness. Letters were sent to nursing homes, posters and cards went to health and frontline workers, messages of hope were drawn on footpaths and teddy bears were placed in windows as bearers of hope. SoJust Week saw the SoJust captains organise a range of activities encouraging students to take positive action towards environmental stewardship. There were photography challenges celebrating the beauties of nature, recycling challenges, sustainable cooking, and of course, mandatory mask making.

Throughout Term 3, the CAP class has been working on a major project focusing on the experiences of First Nations peoples, race relations and the need to address racism head on. The proposal involves local Indigenous elders setting up a small community garden of edible and medicinal plants with cultural information as to how they were used and how they can be used. The project will be complemented by a series of school and community workshops in 2021 facilitated by students and presented by Indigenous elders.

To round off the year, the Social Justice Captains and the new team for 2021 will launch the Vinnies Christmas Appeal which collects toys and Christmas items to go into hampers for families in the local area.

Congratulations must go to the Middle and Senior School Social Justice and Liturgy Captains, Hannah Koolstra, Sarah MacDonald, Avreet Sandhu, Chelsea Carlyon and Louise Punturere, Year 11 and 12 CAP students and VCAL for their remarkable and compassionate responses to the challenges of 2020.

Con Sarris Social Justice and Stewardship Coordinator