Chelsea seeks funds for Filipino school
A trip to a deaf school in the Philippines last year changed local schoolgirl Chelsea Smith's life.
The Chairo Christian School student now wants to raise $20,000 to build new kitchen and dining facilities at the school.
Fisherman of Christ Learning Centre is located in the city of Ligao, a three-hour plane and bus journey from the capital, Manila.
Chelsea visited the school in September last year. She spent nine days with deaf students, playing sport with them, taking them to a swimming pool and playing card games with them.
She was there to encourage and teach the kids, but some of them ended up teaching her.
"There was a group of girls who loved to just sit down and teach me sign language," she says.
The school is home to around 80 students. About 30 of them board at the school. Fisherman of Christ is a private institution, although fees are only collected by those who can pay.
Teachers' pay is only around two thirds of what they would receive if they worked at a government school.
She says the school goes above and beyond to ensure less fortunate children in the Philippines get a chance.
"One boy who was there was 26, in the kindergarten class, deaf, and he didn't know sign language," says Chelsea. "But he was so happy to be there." The existing kitchen and dining facilities at the school are well below Australian standards. There is one long table where the students and staff eat and a kitchen area where food is cooked on an open fire.
Dried coconut husks are used for fuel but while they are easy and cheap to obtain, the high-fibre material makes the dining room fill with smoke.
The new building needs to be well ventilated, as well as be cyclone proof. The region sees serious storm events throughout the year, especially during the rainy season.
After an appraisal Chelsea was told the new renovations would cost $20,000.
Chelsea has organised nine-time Golden Guitar-winning singer and former Play School presenter Colin Buchanan to perform at a fundraiser for the project on June 24. It is fair to say she is excited.
"We grew up in Sunday school singing his songs," she says. "We've got his CD in our car." Once she has raised the money Chelsea plans to return to the Philippines later this year. Last year her mother Mandy accompanied her. This time she will be on her own.
"I'm kind of nervous but I think mum is more nervous," she says.
When she turned 13, she decided she wanted to volunteer overseas. It is somewhat a family tradition for the Smith family. This year she went with a group from Community Church Warragul, organised by Barry Cutchie who has been running similar programs for decades.
Chelsea is keen to reunite with the friends she made over there. "You can't forget the kids," says Chelsea. "They're all so happy." Tickets for the concert on June 24 are selling for $35 and all proceeds will go straight to the building project. There will also be a supper provided on the night. More information is available on Facebook by searching "Life changing projects" or by searching "Warragul" in the search bar on Colin Buchanan's website.
"They changed my life so to come back home and hopefully do the same for them would be awesome," says Chelsea.
Victorians are being invited to have their say on a new bushfire museum and education centre to raise awareness of the history, stories and lessons of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires, as well as other significant fires.
The government is calling for input from bushfire-affected communities, as well as those involved in bushfire recovery and emergency management and First Peoples community members.
The project was recommended as part of the Bushfire Anniversary Advisory Group, chaired by John Brumby, which was established in the lead-up to the 10year commemoration of the 2009 bushfires.
The consultation will seek community views on how a centre or program would function, possible locations if a permanent site was to be established, and what visitors would expect to see and learn during a visit.
The museum will also raise awareness of bushfires that have impacted Victoria, including the Ash Wednesday bushfires, the 1969 Lara fire and the 1939 Black Friday bushfires which burned around 20,000 square kilometres of land.
Feedback gathered during the consultation process will help shape the next steps for the project which is being led by Creative Victoria in consultation with groups including the CFA.
The Victorian Bushfire Centre public consultation is open until August 15.
To learn more and have your say, visit engage.vic.gov.au/bushfire-centre-consultation.
Police and emergency services minister Lisa Neville said the museum would help bring together the experiences, knowledge and stories of how fire has shaped the state and how it will continue to impact us for generations to come.”
“We want to hear from all Victorians to help shape a new bushfire museum and education centre – because we want this to be a centre for everyone,” she said.