Albion resident Madeline Pereira will leave the warmth of her family home next week to participate in this year’s Winter Sleepout. 86069 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By NATALIE GALLENTI
MADELINE Pereira is like most teenage girls.
The 13-year-old wakes up each morning in her warm home, goes to school and then comes home again to her family. She is fed and clothed and loved.
But there are many people her age who do not have a home and have nowhere to sleep.
That’s why the Albion resident, along with many of her peers from St Aloysius College, will participate in this year’s Winter Sleepout.
“I decided to be a part of the sleepout because one of my friends told me about it and I have always wanted to help the poor and homeless,” Madeline said.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity to see what some less fortunate people might go through.”
More than 60 students from St Aloysius College will sleep on the school grounds this Friday.
Madeline said the sleepout would be an “eye-opener” for her and her friends who are often too busy enjoying day-to-day life to think of the most disadvantaged members of the community.
Social Justice co-ordinator Angela Moore said the students were looking forward to participating in the sleepout and many were now aware that a high percentage of homeless people were teenagers.
“I think the point was it’s not just about giving money, but also connecting with the issue,” Ms Moore said.
She said the youngsters would have to deal with no luxuries for a whole night – something that is new to most of them.
“There will be no ipods, no phones, no facebook.”
Ms Moore said the students would also be volunteering for a St Vinnies soup van and would visit the Big Issue classroom to listen to homeless people share their stories.
