Australian Catholic schools and the wider Australian community are supporting the empowerment of the marginalised through Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. Your support of Project Compassion helps to build strong communities and transform millions of lives.

Catholic Schools participate closely in the work of Caritas Australia, the international humanitarian relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Australia. In 2018, over 1350 Catholic Schools participated in Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten campaign, Project Compassion. School students, their families, parishes and the Australian community donated nearly $11 million.

The theme for Project Compassion 2019 is “Give Lent 100%”. It reminds us that, by giving what we can, we can create better outcomes for our sisters and brothers around the world who face poverty.

Thandolwayo’s Story 

Life wasn’t easy for 12 year old Thandolwayo, living with her grandparents in a village in Zimbabwe.

Every morning she walked 7 kilometres, at risk of crocodile attack, to collect water. She’d then go to school exhausted. Her hopes to be a nurse seemed impossible, until Caritas Hwange helped the village to install solar-powered pumps and two 10,000 litre water storage tanks.

“Now I can bathe every day… we now drink clean, safe water and diseases are no longer affecting us,” Thandolwayo says. She can also concentrate on her education.

Water is also being used to mould bricks, with plans for a community garden and fish pond to generate better income.

“Hope is important because it makes me work harder,” Thandolwayo says.

The Meaning of Lent 

This Lent, we show how the promise of a better tomorrow inspires communi- ties all over the world, including those who are most vulnerable.

Hope is contagious: your support of Caritas Australia this Easter season will plant seeds of hope in your life as well. Your participation in Project Compassion will ensure that even more lives are transformed through essential infrastructure and development projects.

Please donate to Project Compassion by calling 1800 024 413 or visiting caritas.org.au/projectcompassion