Our Year 6 students are thinking beyond themselves with their inquiry unit this term titled Care in Action, as they learn about leadership and social justice. They have partnered with charity organisation 1000 Generations to create ‘Boredom Buster Boxes’.
1000 Generation founder Katherine Taliana spoke to the students at the beginning of this term, highlighting the issue of Generational Poverty in the Hume area of Victoria. Her team runs various programs in the area, and she spoke passionately about the breakfast clubs they run in schools for thousands of kids each week. Katherine shared stories of parents asking if they could take food home, as they had none to feed younger siblings and situations where even in the depths of winter, being outside was warmer during the day due to not being able to afford electricity for their homes. The conversations gave our students insight into the current cost of living crisis. Katherine shared about the programs she runs in youth prisons; often, those incarcerated were victims of generational poverty and school holiday times when the regular school day structure was lessened and programs like the breakfast clubs were not available, these young people were more at risk.
The Boredom Buster Boxes are the Year 6 students’ response. By contacting organisations and shops, they are trying to resource 300 boxes full of holiday food, books, activities, games and vouchers to help ease the pressure and reduce the risk faced by these young people and their families. We are beginning to see companies respond, and the Year 6 shared space is filling with products that will go into these boxes. If you know of any organisations that could help the Year 6s with this project please contact me – the students would be very grateful and encouraged. Seeing our students connect with this project and be leaders in action has been heartwarming: Carey students demonstrating the value of Care!
Rebecca Gaskell
Junior School Chaplain
