Maria Regina Catholic Primary School Avalon formed a Social Justice Team in 2008 with the purpose of embracing Social Justice issues and raising awareness of our responsibility both locally and globally. One of the parents in the Social Justice Team has a close affiliation with East Timor after spending some time there in the armed forces. Greater social awareness and fundraising for Australia’s closest and poorest nation became one of our main projects.
Several initiatives took place throughout the year to enhance the school’s relationship with East Timor. On the 26th May, 2008 Maria Regina commemorated East Timor’s Independence Day through whole school activities that included a liturgy, guest speakers, visual art and music activities and fundraising. Maria Regina also hosted four orphans visiting from East Timor after Father Chris Riley from ‘Youth Off the Streets’ heard of Maria Regina’s connection with East Timor.
Inspired by the growing relationship with East Timor, Mrs Cathy Penning, a teacher at Maria Regina, is spending Term 1 of 2009 in the village of Same, near Dili. Cathy is working with local East Timorese teachers, helping to better educate them in effective methods of teaching English. The Social Justice Team has organised an East Timorese Movie Night in May that will include a welcome talk from the Goodwill Ambassador for East Timor, a presentation from Cathy Penning and the showing of “ A Hero’s Story” a biography about Xanana Gusmão life.