By YASEMIN TALAT
STUDENTS from MacKillop College campuses are working together to make a difference in the world.
As part of the school’s Community Connections project, each year level was given a Millennium Development Goal to work towards, with the intention to help reduce poverty and advance human development in a range of critical areas by 2015.
The eight goals represent key issues in both developed and developing countries, and aims to broaden the students’ concept of community to include global community.
This year the Year 9 Aqua class took their own spin on raising awareness and funds for their goal which was to ‘to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases’.
The students rode an 8km course around the Werribee River Trail and raised money for the project which was then donated to Caritas to help towards achieving their Millennium Goal.
Integrated Studies Teacher Nathan Patterson said it was an extremely important project for the students to be involved with.
“It gives them a sense of belonging to a community,” Mr Patterson said.
“They are really engaged and really excited about it and they tend to really take on board what the project is about.”
Year 9 Aqua student Coleen Caday said the project was a real eye-opener.
“I really like this type of project because it makes us see the people who are struggling around the world,” Coleen said.
“And it’s a good way to raise awareness, especially to people who are oblivious to what’s happening outside in the world, it’s a way of notifying people what’s happening and showing we can all help,” she said.
To make a donation or for more information about the Millennium Development Goals visit http://www.caritas.org.au/
