Project Compassion empowering Australians to make a world of difference

28 Feb 2019

By The Record

Salma and her baby, Samiul live in a rural community two hours from Bangladesh. They were Salma was able to get help during her pregnancy from the Safe Motherhood Program provided by Project Compassion. Photo: Ashish Peter Gomes.
Salma and her baby, Samiul live in a rural community two hours from Bangladesh. They were Salma was able to get help during her pregnancy from the Safe Motherhood Program provided by Project Compassion. Photo: Ashish Peter Gomes.

This March, tens of thousands of Australians will fundraise for Caritas Australia’s international programs as part of the agency’s main annual appeal, Project Compassion.

Perth Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton will kick start the appeal, with a launch and Mass on Tuesday 5 March at Clontarf Aboriginal College in Waterford.

A social justice workshop will also be held with Caritas Australia Program Manager Baskoro, will address the school community and share his experience of assisting communities in Indonesian Borneo to preserve their native rainforests.

Sixteen-year-old Peter goes to a boarding school in the Solomon Islands which has experienced water shortages for 60 years. Previously students would have to walk kilometres each day in search of clean water. This was particularly challenging for Peter who is living with a disability. Photo: Cassandra Hill/Caritas Australia.

Caritas Australia is an international aid and development agency of the Catholic Church.

Paul O’Callaghan, Chief Executive of Caritas Australia, said the philosophy of the agency is to help marginalised communities become the architects of their own future.

“Project Compassion has been able to achieve major change over the past 54 years,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

“We encourage everyone to support Project Compassion so that we continue to transform lives, strengthen resilience of communities and contribute to peace and stability.”

Project Compassion’s 2019 theme of “hope” centers on six stories from across the globe in Zimbabwe, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, Australia, Bangladesh and Vietnam.

Thandolwayo attends the local school which has just 35 students. Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia.

Each story profiles Caritas’ life-changing development of work in these communities across the globe.

The stories feature how Caritas has helped change the community for the better – either by providing water supply or a community care program to those in need.

A special focus during this year’s appeal will be on the consequences and response of Caritas Australia to the current global water crisis.

“According to the United Nations, each year, more people die, the majority aged under five from diseases caused by dirty water from all forms of violence, including war. A lack of clean water disrupts the education of girls and robs communities of income and food,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

To donate to Project Compassion, visit Caritas Australia’s website, www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or call 1800 024 413.