In the Senior School, the Community Awareness Committee is focused on both raising awareness of issues locally and in the wider world, as well as raising money to support those in need. We recognise the need to make links with a number of organisations within our local community, and internationally, in the hope of providing greater understanding in our students and aiding in the provision of a better life for those less fortunate.
Local Connections
When the 2009 school year began, following the horrors of the Black Saturday bushfires, students from across the whole school were committed and passionate about raising money to ease the suffering of those affected. A Bushfire Relief Concert was held where girls from each of the year levels donated their voices, instrumental skills or pocket money to support the cause. Over $4,500 was raised by the school for the Red Cross Bushfire Relief Fund.
Community Awareness Days are another forum for the school to support members of our local community who are in need. Every Ruyton class from Year 7 to 11 hosts a stall at the Community Awareness Days; these stalls range from a sausage sizzle and 'guess which teacher belongs to the glasses', to a putting competition and a bucket of spaghetti lucky dip. Furthermore these days have also provided a valuable opportunity for the students to develop their organisational skills and demonstrate their leadership potential.
This year the charities we focused on in the Community Awareness Days were CamCare, the Fred Hollows Foundation, Beyond Blue and the Collingwood English Language School who have each received donations of over $1000. CamCare is a not-for-profit, community based organisation which provides services to more than 5,500 households yearly in Boroondara, and Beyond Blue is an organisation focused on working to combat depression. Within Australia, the Fred Hollows Foundation works in partnership with local communities and indigenous organisations to focus on nutrition, eye health, literacy, women's development, and aural health. Our connections with the Collingwood English Language School have been cemented over the last few years, and the money raised has allowed the school to continue the fruit programme for its pupils.
This year a number of senior girls took part in the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal Doorknock around Hawthorn. Over $800 was raised for programmes to help the abused, homeless, widowed and aged in our community. Furthermore, the school community has generously provided food donations for the Wesley Mission, as well as purchasing Legacy and ANZAC Day badges and pins which were sold by the girls.
Global Connections
In May, students from the Committee set up a stall in the Courtyard Cafe for a week with a focus on Amnesty's Candle Day and the aim of generating awareness and discussion of human rights. The focus this year was a Demand Dignity campaign where the goal was an adequate standard of living - food, water, housing, health and education for all around the world.
The Xavier Maytime Fair
The Xavier Maytime Fair is another example of students giving up their time for a worthy cause and making connections both locally and globally. Over thirty students were involved in manning our Fairy Floss stall one Saturday and they raised nearly $2,000 for the Jesuit missions in India and South East Asia. In addition, we also had students participating in fashion parades, debates and through their donations.
The 40 Hour Famine for World Vision
This year the 40 Hour Famine for World Vision raised money to help ease the Global Food Crisis. Following a student-run presentation at Assembly, many girls were moved to give up mobiles, speaking, cars, television or food for forty hours in order to raise nearly $4,000 for the cause.
It is not only the students' generosity of time and money, but the burgeoning awareness and desire to improve the situation of others, which has been fostered through these activities, that will have a lasting positive impression on them.
Ms Georgina Canty, Community Awareness Co-ordinator