By Anthony Barich
MORE THAN 130 students participated in the St Vincent de Paul Society’s inaugural School Sleepout at the WACA ground on 4 July. St Brigid’s, La Salle, John XXIII, Mandurah Catholic, Irene McCormack
Catholic and St Norbert’s Colleges and St Thomas the Apostle Claremont
Parish Youth Group participated after registering through the Every Day
Hero page on Vinnies’ website.
The Sleepout gave students the opportunity to experience first-hand what it is like to be without a home this winter. Over 105,000 Australians live without safe and secure accommodation every night of the year. In Western Australia it is estimated that almost 14,000 people don’t have a place to call home, according to Vinnies.
Vinnies said the event was about young people making a statement on homelessness by joining together for the night, to listen to other people’s experiences of homelessness and to help raise awareness and funds to support the homeless and emergency relief services of the St Vincent de Paul Society in WA.
Archbishop Barry Hickey gave a spiritual reflection and blessed participants as the participating students heard from staff of Vinnies, the Archdiocesan Catholic Youth Ministry and Vinnies clients who have been homeless.
“The evening was a moving and poignant reflection on homelessness and allowed students and teachers to immerse themselves in the issue of homelessness and all that surrounds it. We are very grateful to the schools that participated and would like to acknowledge the efforts of staff and students who slept out in the 2 degree temperature,” St Vincent de Paul Society WA spokesperson Lucinda Ardagh said. She said the money raised will go directly to supporting homeless services the Society runs, “but, more importantly, we now hopefully have 130 new advocates in the community in the area in homeless”.
“We hope what they learnt and experienced on the night will stay with them and will help them go back to their friends and family and schools and share a new perspective on this important issue,” Ms Ardagh said.