By De La Salle Brothers ANZPPNG
Four high school graduates from La Salle schools around the world will spend their newfound freedom by going “back to ‘school” as volunteers with Aboriginal students in Perth.
The 2019 cohort were blessed and commissioned at the St John Paul the Great Chaplaincy Centre at the University of Sydney on Saturday 12 January.
This year marks a milestone for the Lasallian Mission Council and the De La Salle District of ANZPPNG who gained the highest number of volunteers by far, with 19 applications.
Joshua Paul from the Malvern De La Salle College, Zaina Baba from Lakemba Holy Spirit College, Luca Almiento from the Mentone St Bede’s College, and Lam Eddie from La Salle Technical College, Papua New Guinea, will serve in the Lasallian Volunteers programme at Middle Swan’s La Salle College in 2019.
“I have always been passionate about helping people, which pushed me to apply as a volunteer,” Zaina said.
Zaina hopes to use her talents of music, art, physical fitness, and health to get the students actively involved.
“I hope, on my placement that I can implement these things into my new environment and involve the students.”
Luca, who once studied at East Bentleigh St James College, said he was inspired to volunteer with Lasallian Mission Services after a St Bede’s College immersion to Balgo – an extremely remote WA Indigenous community.
“These proud Lasallian colleges shaped what my faith is today,” Luca said.
“This experience showed me the real value of giving up your time for a community and individuals who may need it.”
Lam saw Lasallian volunteers work in his Port Moresby school and sees the programme as a great way to live out Lasallian values, “dedicating a year of my life to fulfil the values of faith, service and community. Learning more about Aboriginal culture will be a highlight too.”
Lasallian volunteers will be working across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, living the De La Salle Brothers’ values of faith, service and community.
The volunteer responsibilities include supporting students with literacy, numeracy, and other subjects, undertaking boarding house duties, supervising homework, assisting teachers and staff.
The role also gives the volunteer the experience of directing after school and weekend youth activities, such as sports, video games, prayer sessions, and music related activities.