AUSTRALIA : ANTI-POVERTY WEEK IN SCHOOLS AND ARCHDIOCESE

ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE REPORT
Archdiocese unites with schools for Anti-Poverty Week


Wednesday 31 October 2012

By Kristen Toohey

“IT’s not every day a person is given the opportunity to experience an event that can potentially change their life. The opportunity to watch the film, The Human Experience, has inspired us. The documentary sparked a flame within us; we want to go out into the world and try to make a change. As students we are the future leaders of the world and we have the capability to change the world!”

This was the reaction of Year 11 students, Joanne Tissera and Alexandra Thurn, from Catholic Regional College Melton, after they viewed the multi-award winning film by two Catholic filmmakers, The Human Experience, a film that continues to inspire people across the globe to consider the plight of those less fortunate.

As part of Anti-Poverty Week 2012, the Communications Office at the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne arranged public screening licenses and DVD’s of The Human Experience to be available to Catholic secondary schools throughout Melbourne.

Religious Education & Faith Development Coordinator at Catholic Regional College Melton took up the opportunity and said, “Numerous classes at our school have viewed the film and it has created much introspection and discussion.”

Joanne Tissera and Alexandra Thurn, also had this to say about the impact of the film:

The Human Experience opened our eyes to poverty and hurt throughout the world. It is unbelievable to see the positive attitude of those so much less fortunate. Most of the people we saw have been living in unfortunate situations for years, yet they have a smile that could light up a room. The people throughout the documentary were happy to share their story.

“We don't realize how far a little smile or wave can travel. Something little like that can make someone's day. The people from the documentary have taught us to be positive no matter what, because there is always someone else out there that is worse off than us.

“As much as we hate to admit it, most of us take life for granted. It is almost assumed that living until tomorrow is a given. This documentary was enlightening, it reminded us to be happy with every single day of our lives and has truly shown us that it is never too late to help out in a big or small way.

“The world is a big place, but we feel that even if we help in one way or another, whether that be as small as buying a homeless person a snack or helping out in a soup kitchen; we have made a difference and together we can change the world, one step at a time.”

DVD’s and free public screening licenses for The Human Experience continue to be available to Catholic schools throughout Melbourne or to catechists or chaplains working in government high schools. For more information contact Kristen Toohey on
kristen.toohey@cam.org.au or 9926 5778.
 

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