An 11-year-old boy has raised more than $2,000 for an orphanage in Bali after he was inspired by the plight of children there recently.
Matthew Cirocco travelled to Indonesia with his family during the April school holidays where he visited the Franciscan-run orphanage at Tuka-Dalung.
The Year 6 student from St Luke’s Catholic Primary School in Woodvale told The Record he enjoyed meeting some of the 45 children who reside at the orphanage.
While there, Matthew spent his pocket money on purchasing groceries for the orphanage, as well as donating toys he had collected from children at his school.
The budding magician even performed several tricks for the children’s entertainment.
“Some of the tricks they couldn’t quite understand, so it was a bit tricky, but they all really enjoyed it,” he said.
“One trick was they would tie my hands with a rope, I would turn around, and in a second I’d be out of the rope.”
Although the Cirocco family have travelled to Bali regularly for several years, it was their first visit to the orphanage, and Matthew said he was touched by the simplicity of the children he met.
“I suppose because they’re orphans, they don’t have parents, so they’re not as loved as they should be,” he said.
“I felt a bit sad [when I saw their living conditions], but I was quite happy because they all seemed very happy.”
Matthew decided it was important to raise funds for the children when he recognised the struggle to provide for the children.
“They have so little and we have quite a bit, so we can give a lot of what we have to them,” he said.
The family is planning to return to Bali in January to present the orphanage with the money they’ve raised.
Matthew said the money would make a great difference to the children.
“For most of the children it would probably pay for a lot of education, and probably a lot of food as well,” he said.
Since returning to Perth, Matthew has facilitated several fundraising ventures at his school and parish, under the title of ‘Matthew’s Mission’.
He said his friends had gladly embraced the project, with many families now planning to make their own visits to the orphanage in the near future.
Matthew’s mum Catherine said the family was “very proud” of Matthew’s achievements.
“We’ve taught him to try to think along those lines, but to take it that step further and orchestrate it, we’re very happy,” she said.
“We’re also very humbled by the reception from other people and their generosity.
“We here in quite a lucky country can give to others, so we’re very thankful for the help of the parish and the school for supporting Matthew’s Mission.”
Woodvale parish priest Fr Francisco Mascarenhas said he was impressed with his young altar server’s initiative and desire to help the orphanage.
“He’s taken a very keen interest in it, he has taken it to heart and raised a lot of funds,” he said.
Last month, Matthew spoke at the parish’s weekend Masses, and Fr Francisco said the presentations were well received by all present.
“He didn’t even ask for money as such, he just said what he had done and people just started giving him donations after Mass,” he said.
“People really wanted to encourage him and to say how much they appreciate what he’s doing.”