Faith in Action - House of Welcome
WELCOME - RESPECT - CONNECT - EMPOWER
On the 20th of May, 13 students visited St Francis - House of Welcome in Graville with Mrs Kemal and Mrs van Gestel. Leonie Dyer, the Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager at the House of Welcome informed our students with the confronting facts, statistics of Asylum Seekers and heartbreaking truths often experienced when seeking refuge.
“An asylum seeker is a person looking for protection because they fear persecution, or they have experienced violence or human rights violations”.
Students were then introduced to a lady (who we cannot identify), a highly qualified Doctor who once lived in Pakistan but had to leave her homeland due to terrifying corruption. She left everything behind, including family, as she feared for her life. After she had explained the very emotional story of her journey, we were moved to enforce our faith into action.
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10
Students formed small groups to formulate campaigns and survival kits to support/help asylum seekers in Australia, eventually coming together to collaborate and share these ideas with Leonie.
In upcoming College assemblies, representatives from this group will be informing our community of the issues surrounding asylum seekers and what we can do to support ‘House of Welcome’ in order to help those in need.
Shandel Kemal & Frances van Gestel