Caritas Australia will today – Ash Wednesday – launch its annual Lenten fundraising and awareness appeal, Project Compassion.
For each of the six weeks of Lent, thousands of Australians come together in solidarity to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
This year, Project Compassion has the theme “For All Future Generations”, which asks people to reflect on the great “yes” that Mary said when the angel told her that she was to become the mother of Jesus. She freely accepted a unique place in the history of the human family. The great prayer she shared with her cousin Elizabeth says “all generations will call me blessed”. Mary’s yes is “for all future generations”.
Caritas Australia helps over one million people in Australia and overseas every year, walking alongside those in crisis.
One of these is Laxmi, a 16-year-old who lives in one of Nepal’s most remote and impoverished communities. Laxmi’s chance at a better life was through education, supported by her parents. Sadly, her father passed away when she was 10 and she stopped going to school.
Prior to her father’s death, Laxmi joined a child’s club at her school, which is run with the support of Caritas Nepal, through the Nepal Livelihoods and Resilience Program. Child’s clubs support students to develop their speaking, writing and leadership skills through extracurricular activities.
Thanks to the support of her child’s club, Laxmi was encouraged to resume her education. She became an active member and developed the skills and confidence to become a leader, advocating for clean water at her school.
Laxmi is now excelling in her studies and working towards her dream of becoming a civil engineer. She has become a mentor to other girls in her village, encouraging them to stand up for their rights and creating lasting change “for all future generations”.
Details: Project Compassion, visit Caritas Australia’s website:
FULL STORY
Project Compassion 2023 – Week One (Caritas Australia)
