Our Lady of Hope Students Outreach to Balinese Community
18 February 2014
This article is now posted on the CESA website: http://www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/news
Patricia teaching students in Songan Village the 'the' words.
As part of the School’s
outreach, Year 5/6 students at Our Lady of Hope School in Adelaide are
supporting children in need in Bali, particularly through the ‘Piggy Paradise’
project. This project helps to raise pigs in a more humane way in Songan
Village, Kintamani, where ‘Piggy Paradise’ has been established. From dark,
confined, concrete quarters, to roaming free amongst a patch of exquisitely
lush vegetation, at the base of Gunung Batur, Bali pig farming has taken the
lead and moved a step forward. In this little haven five pretty Bali pigs have
now become permanent residents, where they are free to eat, snort and shuffle
to their heart’s content. They can seek shelter from the rain, under the quaint
alang alang tree houses.
This ‘Piggy Paradise’ evolved out of a fundraising initiative undertaken by Year 5/6 students. Social justice is intertwined in Catholic school philosophy so it was a logical step to support children in need, as many Australians holiday in Bali. Plastic bottles, cans and fruit boxes were collected, cleaned and sorted, before selling them to raise money. The project is now known as, “Cans For Kids Project” where kids here work to help kids in Bali, more specifically the Cempaka Putih Foundation, Songan Village.
This ‘Piggy Paradise’ evolved out of a fundraising initiative undertaken by Year 5/6 students. Social justice is intertwined in Catholic school philosophy so it was a logical step to support children in need, as many Australians holiday in Bali. Plastic bottles, cans and fruit boxes were collected, cleaned and sorted, before selling them to raise money. The project is now known as, “Cans For Kids Project” where kids here work to help kids in Bali, more specifically the Cempaka Putih Foundation, Songan Village.
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| Patricia teaching students at OLOH School in Adelaide about the Cempaka Putih Foundation. |
The proceeds have
provided an opportunity for six committed families to start a sustainable
business, share the profits and it has the potential to expand and include more
families. The continuation of this project is conditional on the humane
treatment of animals and positive environmental practices with a view to
ongoing sustainability. Such projects have the potential to expand and lead to
more fellowship between the two cultures.
Year 5/6 Teacher Ms Patricia Kerkenaar-Richards has recently returned from a trip to the Songan Village where she worked as a volunteer. The Village has insufficient housing, inadequate roadways, inaccessible health care and inadequate water supplies all run deep into the fabric of this community. The Cempaka Putih Foundation is helping to provide clothing, first aid supplies, building supplies and volunteers to build houses. It also provides free English lessons and computer tuition for anyone able to access it, using volunteers like Ms Kerkenaar-Richards to run classes.
Year 5/6 Teacher Ms Patricia Kerkenaar-Richards has recently returned from a trip to the Songan Village where she worked as a volunteer. The Village has insufficient housing, inadequate roadways, inaccessible health care and inadequate water supplies all run deep into the fabric of this community. The Cempaka Putih Foundation is helping to provide clothing, first aid supplies, building supplies and volunteers to build houses. It also provides free English lessons and computer tuition for anyone able to access it, using volunteers like Ms Kerkenaar-Richards to run classes.
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| We know out 'the' words really well! |
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| Oral presentation in Songan Village language school |
Gede, a leader in the Community spoke about plans to start an organic garden.
“Next to piggy farm…..we can grow sweet potatoes for the piggies. “The manure
is good for fertilizer,” Gede said. “The children can help out after school and
they will learn about happy pig farming,” he said.
Ms Kerkenaar-Richards is enthusiastic about the Cempaka Putih Foundation move towards more environmentally friendly ways of making a living in the future. It’s all looking on the up and up in Songan Village.
“‘Piggy Paradise’ will provide a living for six families and even though pigs will be slaughtered for ceremonies and food, the concept of sustainability will shine through. ‘Piggy Paradise’ is also about stepping closer towards the practice of humane pig farming, environmental awareness, maintainable business practices and a more productive future with the promise of hope which binds us all,” said Ms Kerkenaar-Richard.
Ms Kerkenaar-Richards is enthusiastic about the Cempaka Putih Foundation move towards more environmentally friendly ways of making a living in the future. It’s all looking on the up and up in Songan Village.
“‘Piggy Paradise’ will provide a living for six families and even though pigs will be slaughtered for ceremonies and food, the concept of sustainability will shine through. ‘Piggy Paradise’ is also about stepping closer towards the practice of humane pig farming, environmental awareness, maintainable business practices and a more productive future with the promise of hope which binds us all,” said Ms Kerkenaar-Richard.
Abridged and edited by;
Veronica McCaffrey Ed D
Catholic Education SA
Public donations can be made via PayPal (patkr57@hotmail.com)
If you buy a pig (70 AUS) it will be named after you and you will receive a photograph and an official receipt.
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| Article reproduced in the OLOH School magazine |
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