Students at St Mary Star of the Sea College in Wollongong lived out the Good Samaritan ethos of their school during Lent this year, raising funds to support the Good Samaritan Inn in Melbourne, which provides accommodation for women and children escaping family violence.
By Debra Vermeer
The student-led initiative raised $780 in donations and included education about the Inn and its mission, including the sharing of personal stories of how the Inn has not only provided a safe space for families in need, but also helped them get back on their feet and build a new future. The fundraising for the Inn was in addition to the students’ annual Lenten appeal for Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion.
The Dean of Mission at St Mary’s, Jane McDonald, said that the College, which is a Good Samaritan Education school, had eight Houses and each House was involved in supporting one of the Good Samaritan Foundation’s projects.
The two Houses involved with supporting the Inn were the Gibbons and Ungunmerr-Baumann Houses. Other Houses will raise funds to support Good Samaritan ministries in the Philippines, Kiribati, Timor Leste and Indigenous communities across Australia.
“Over the year, each of those causes will receive some education and then fundraising,” Jane said. “We understand these ministries as having been established by the Sisters themselves and we really try to promote the work of the Sisters and their collaborators in that way.”
Year 12 students and House Captains for Gibbons and Ungunmerr-Baumann, Alessia Naumovski and Keita Sparkes, said they were enriched by their roles in leading the fundraising and education initiative for the Inn.
“I liked spreading awareness about it, because the fundraising was also happening around International Women’s Day, so it was good to tie that in, too,” Alessia said.
Keita said that being able to educate the students about the work of the Inn helped to provide a personal insight for them into how it impacts the lives of people escaping family violence.
“I felt like it was really important to not only support young people and women in need, but to also educate our students about what the Inn does and who they support, how they support them, and why these women are in these situations,” she said.
Keita said that initially she and Alessia got up at Assembly to share ‘Mariyam’s story’ from the Inn’s website, and to invite the girls to consider what they could do to support the work of the Inn.
“Then at lunch for a whole week, there were girls walking around getting donations, talking about the Inn, what they do there and who they help, and that was our main fundraiser,” she said.
“In the past, we’ve had fundraisers such as bake sales, but this time we wanted to take a different approach and try to say to the girls, why not give something up? This could be your coffee in the morning, or a Boost Juice in the afternoon, and donate that money to an important cause.
“I think we were a little bit unsure going into it, because we know it’s hard sometimes to give just from the goodness of your heart, but the girls did a great job and it was really successful.”
Student Scarlett Haybittle helped with the fundraising effort because she said it was an important cause.
“I loved how the Inn is supporting young people and children – last year they supported 25 young people and children. That was really important to me,” she said.
Nectaria Kinnas said she wanted to be a part of the fundraising because of how the Inn helps women.
“Being at an all-girls school and focusing on women’s education, I thought it was a really good idea to join and to learn a little bit more about how the Inn helps women,” she said.
Tia Caroutas agreed, saying that for an all-girls’ school, it was important to show support and solidarity for women and children who have experienced family violence and are in need of safe accommodation and tools to assist with recovery.
“It’s important to raise awareness and especially support other women who are in situations that are obviously really hard, and to fundraise or do whatever we can to help,” she said.
The students said initiatives like the Lenten fundraiser helped reinforce the Good Samaritan spirit within the school, based on the parable in the Gospel of Luke and the legacy of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.
“I think that to be raising funds for something that’s outside of our everyday life experience helps us to understand others more,” Alessia said.
“Being at this privileged school, many of us would not understand, for example, Mariyam’s story of having to escape this life that you’re in, protect your children and also protect yourself so that you can provide for your children.
“Spreading that awareness at assembly and telling a story of what someone else went through, and putting yourself in their shoes, reminds everyone that we are at a Good Samaritan school and that we are Good Samaritans. As part of that, we have to actually take action together.”
Jane said the funds raised would be presented to the Good Samaritan Inn via the Good Samaritan Foundation.
The Inn’s Chief Executive Officer, Jemma Mead, thanked the Year 12 students for their “compassionate and thoughtful fundraising efforts”.
“Their generosity directly supports women, gender diverse people, and children experiencing family violence or homelessness, helping to provide crisis, short-term, and transitional accommodation and support when it is most needed,” she said.
“With family violence affecting one in four women, the students’ actions do more than raise funds; they raise awareness and contribute to prevention by starting important conversations among young people. Every dollar raised helps our service support families in crisis, and every conversation helps build a future free from violence.
“I thank these young women for their kindness, leadership and commitment to making a meaningful difference in our community.”
For information about how you can support the Good Samaritan Inn, please visit the website.
