Throughout Lent in this Year of Mercy, students from St Joseph's school Barmera have opened doors of Mercy in their fundraising efforts for Caritas' Project Compassion.
As a school, it was our aim to bring Project Compassion to life in 2016, rather than to simply ask people to donate money. We set our fundraising goal at $1,000 - whilst considering that we may not reach our target and could only give our best effort.
In the front office, we created and displayed a large board featuring various types of doors. Each door displayed an amount of money. Every time we, as a community, reached an amount displayed on the board, a door was opened. Inside each door was a picture and description that gave examples of what various monetary figures could mean for others.
Throughout Lent, classes opened the doors. As a school, learning was set around the stories featured behind the doors. The doors were a reference to opening the Holy door of Mercy, whilst also providing meaning in the context of creating opportunities for others in our world.
As part of St Joseph's fundraising, Lenten breakfasts and staff lunches were held, as well as the production of a weekly coin line throughout Lent. Students looked forward to opening more doors and learning about the value of each dollar and what it could mean to someone else in our world.
Through our Project Compassion Doors of Mercy, students have made real-life connections and gained a deeper understanding of the support that Project Compassion enables for children and adults around the world to gain opportunities, learn new skills, build relationships and have hope for the future.
The connection between the Year of Mercy and Project Compassion has raised funds whilst allowing students to understand that they can make a difference. The total amount raised this Lent by students at St Joseph's Barmera for Project Compassion was $1162.65 - well above the intended target amount.
Project Compassion Doors of Mercy - comments by St Joseph's students:
"We put our coins in a line, then we can open a door."
Zoe - Reception
"We raised money for the poor and we put money in little boxes and we used it to make coin lines. We measured the lines. Then we could open doors."
Angus - Year 1
"We raised money to help the poor people. We did a coin line up to $1,000. We opened the $50 door and the $400 door."
Lowan - Year 2
"I really enjoyed opening the doors and learning about other countries and what is happening in the world. I learned that other people can live safe and better lives if we donate money."
Kale - Year 4
"In the office there is a wall of doors. We have raised money for Project Compassion. Every time we raised an amount of money we could open a door and learn about a poor place in the world."
Chelsea - Year 5
"This year our school had a board of doors for Project Compassion. Once we made the amount that was on the door we could open that door. Our target was $1000, so fare we have made $900 with a few days left. I hope we reach the target because $1000 could help hundreds of people around the world that need help."
Dylan - Year 5
"Our school held Lenten breakfasts every Wednesday morning which raised money towards Project Compassion. We also collected coins from home and every Friday we would create a coin line. At the end of lent we had raised more than $1,200."
Ellie - Year 6
"For project Compassion Ms deWinter made some doors and we tried to reach our goal of $1,000. Each Lenten breakfast we raised money for Project Compassion, every time we would reach a number our class could open a door and inside it would say what that amount of money could do for poor people somewhere else in the world."
Katerina - Year 6
"We got this little money box so we could collect money for Project Compassion. We brought our money boxes into school on Fridays during Lent and made a coin line. From the coin line only we already raised $420."
Kloe - Year 7
Intergenerational playgroups are truly something special — an experience that enriches the lives of both the young and the older members of our community. These playgroups are more than just a space for children to play; they are a vital platform for different generations to come together, share wisdom, and build meaningful relationships.
