iServi News | 11 December 2020 | Term 4, Week 9
Write for Rights
This year, Year 10 and Year 11 students have come together each Thursday at Break Two to write solidarity letters and messages of hope to help uphold human rights and freedoms, as part of Amnesty International’s letter writing campaign, Write for Rights. These letters, words and actions put pressure on governments and authorities to take immediate action to improve conditions and circumstances for people. In writing letters of solidarity, it is hoped that those people who abuse and threaten human rights will be brought to justice, and those unjustly imprisoned will experience freedom once again.
Students have advocated for a variety of issues, injustices and oppression occurring in our world, including but not limited to racism, discrimination, illegal executions, unlawful imprisonments, and fear mongering activities. Recently, students have united in solidarity by advocating for the release of Nassima al-Sada, a woman who has dedicated her time and energy to improving the rights and freedoms of women in Saudi Arabia. Prior to 2018, Nassima al-Sada actively fought for the rights for women to drive and spoke out against the male guardianship system, causing her to be unlawfully detained and silenced for speaking about these issues.
Homelessness: We Care
As part of the 2019 Christian Service Learning program, the Homelessness: We Care project involved a group of Year 10 and Year 11 students preparing and cooking food to be served to people in need. Due to council restrictions, in 2020 students were no longer permitted to serve the food in the city. As a result of this, Dr Thiveos looked for alternative ways for students to continue to support the people experiencing homelessness, and arranged the collection of various foods, health and personal care items. With the help of student and staff volunteers, the operation went smoothly, and we assembled a total of 157 healthcare packs, 236 food packs, 158 female personal care packs and 15 healthcare backpacks.
Olivia Bradshaw (SC7), Hannah Myint (OLS7), Jayden Nguyen (SE6) and Michael Sosulski (OLS2)
We commend our students for their efforts and dedication to these initiatives, which work to maintain the dignity of all people. Senior school students interested in being involved in the Write for Rights project in 2021 are invited to contact me at the College and check the Student Notices for information at the beginning of Term 1.
Dr Thiveos
Teacher
