3 September 2018

St Mary’s School, Williamstown, concluded their month of collecting donations for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre with the Show of Hope art exhibition.

Coinciding with Catholic Migrant & Refugee Week, the Show of Hope used photographs from around the world to inspire students to create art about the refugee experience. The school was joined by hundreds of guests to raise awareness of the asylum seeker issue, enjoying a hot lunch prepared by Nigethan, a former asylum seeker who wanted to give back to a community that showed compassion for him. The day hosted guest speakers and sold prints to raise funds for the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project.

‘It’s an important learning opportunity for our students to respond to an issue of justice. It is important for our students to understand that being a Catholic means to action God’s mercy and love for those who need it,’ said the school’s RE Coordinator Nathan Porter. ‘We want our children to be critical and empathetic thinkers, who read beyond the politics and to experience the humanity of the issue. We want to see the hearts of people who have fled and fought for their lives and put simply, we want to help them. It’s the story of the Good Samaritan in our day and age.’

Ruby: The purpose of the show of hope exhibition is to educate our community on the asylum seeker issue. It is to make people aware of what has happened to people on this planet just like us. They see this and are encouraged to make a difference just like St Marys do.

Jade: I have learnt that a little help goes a long way. Whatever we donate - food, money, time or just a show of hope - it will make a big difference. I learnt that when we all come together in a show of hope, it makes the biggest difference of all.

Sarah: I have learned that a little bit of help goes a long way. It’s not too hard to give a little when we take so much.