Zaki Haidari - Honoured Guest Speaker on Unity Day 2021

St Andrew's College welcomed Mr Zaki Haidari for the second time this term, to address the College. In fitting with Unity Day and the diversity of languages, I welcomed Zaki in Irish, a language of my family, "Caed Mile Failte Naomh Andrias" - One hundred thousand welcomes to St Andrews College. 

Zaki is a human rights advocate, who is also a Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia Employment Support Worker. He was a guest presenter and facilitator on our recent Year 10 Faith & Justice Reflection Day. His story is so powerful and moving that students and staff immediately recommended that Zaki share his story with the whole College. Zaki’s story resonated with us all as souls united - Unity Day focuses on what brings us together and that we share in our humanity.

Zaki in sharing his story of survival and testimony as a refugee living in Australia at the assistance of the Australian people held the audience of over 1000 people captive for 25 minutes.

As a College community students and staff led by Mr Loyola will organise how we can support Jesuit Refugee Service and seek to influence the Australian Government's stance on refugees and asylum seekers. Supporting JRS is a stated priority of our Diocese and Parish.