Mercedes college students are next month taking part in Catholic Mission’s Socktober Campaign, an initiative that aims to raise awareness among young people on global poverty issues and which raises funds to help combat poverty in Australia and abroad.
The 2016 Socktober celebrates the work of the Sister Eulie and the Daughters of Charity in providing education to urban migrant children living in extreme poverty in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Sisters have custom fit a tuk-tuk (three-wheeler auto rickshaw), which operates as a mobile learning centre, travelling around the different urban villages of Phnom Penh.
The vehicle provides the children with both a safe place to learn and be together and distances them from vulnerable places where they may be prone to abuse and trafficking.
The Mercedes College students held a number of activities and events around the Socktober theme, including a Crazy Sock Day when students and staff turned out to school wearing crazy, colourful socks – the more outrageous the better, and gave a gold coin donation for the privilege.
Western Australian MPs Mark McGowan, Paul Papalia and Roger Cook are also lending their support, willing to help once again ‘sock it to poverty’.
Mr Papalia described Socktober as a great way of raising awareness about global poverty and a useful tool “for raising funds to improve access to education for disadvantaged children. I’m very happy to support it.”
Socktober is an initiative that has become a regular part of World Mission Month, which occurs every October and includes World Mission Sunday.
Schools, children’s liturgies or parishes youth groups interested in Socktober may contact the Perth Catholic Mission office on 9422 7933 for more information.