PUPILS ALL CLASS ABOUT CARING
AFTER spending only one hour on thin cardboard in the freezing breezeway of GMHBA Stadium, primary school students gained a greater understanding of what it would be like to be homeless.
On June 28 more than 50 of the city’s business leaders will sleep rough at Kardinia Park for the first Geelong St Vinnies CEO Sleep Out.
Yesterday, 44 student leaders from five Geelong primary schools did a mini sleep-out to gain an understanding of disadvantage and poverty in the region.
While the students only stayed outside for an hour during the day, the experience was a stark reminder of the challenges poverty stricken Australians – including more than 731,000 children – face.
Geelong Christian College Year 4 student Mariana Nohra said the experience made her aware of the tough conditions facing many homeless people.
“It would be terrible to have to live on the streets in the cold,” Mariana said.
“We have been learning about the people who are homeless and it has taught me to appreciate that I actually have a home and belongings.
“It has taught me to feel for people who don’t have (these) things and who are sleeping on the street.”
St Vincent de Paul youth and education team leader Felicity Walter said students discussed the concept of poverty and the isolation it created.
“We talked about the difference between a house and a home. How it is not called ‘houselessness’ — because you may have a roof over your head but having a home is about having and support,” Ms Walter said.
“These topics can be challenging, but they are switched on. They can learn what they can do to make a difference.”
Mariana and her classmates are working to set up a soup drive fundraiser.
“I learned that I can use any sort of action or activity to raise money and awareness about homelessness,” she said.