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14 February 2018

Project Compassion, Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal, was officially launched yesterday by Archbishop Denis Hart at a special event at Cardinal Knox Centre.

Archbishop Hart reminded us that Project Compassion was ‘not just about giving money but giving of ourselves and reaching out’ and that ‘to bring hope to people is one of the greatest things we can do in God’s family’.

Attending the event were representatives from St Michael’s School, Ashburton; St Monica’s College, Epping; St John’s School, Mitcham; Our Holy Redeemer School, Surrey Hills; Academy of Mary Immaculate, Fitzroy; and Sacred Heart Girls College, Oakleigh.

The staff and students watched a video about a young woman in Nepal called Janaki whose life was transformed by Caritas’ Children and Youth Empowerment Program.

Janak Sharma, Regional Manager of Caritas Nepal, spoke about the work of Caritas in Nepal and the Empowerment Program whose objective is to develop the capacity of schools, students, teachers and parents for the protection and empowerment of children and young people.

The Year 10 students from Sacred Heart College who attended are keen to start their fundraising for this year’s Project Compassion with a presentation at school assembly to tell their school community what they learned.

Erin said, ‘I think the main reason [to support Project Compassion] is because you’re opening your hearts to other people and making sure that you’re helping others’, and Arya found Janika’s story ‘inspiring’.

Juliette said, ‘I think that the Year of Youth has probably helped a lot of people connect more with Project Compassion. Seeing the story of the young woman, as a young woman is probably going to inspire more women especially at Sacred Heart to donate, knowing that that story will resonate and connect with them’.