They spent a morning without electricity and an afternoon behind chicken wire but this group of Maitland teenagers have only glimpsed a fraction of the issues facing some refugees.
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Students at All Saints College, St Peter’s Campus, Maitland, lived the social justice experience yesterday as part of the high school’s annual Social Justice Awareness Day.
“Days like this one are very important because not only do they raise awareness of refugees but they also show we care,” school leader Bree Aspinall said.
“They also show us what other people go through and how lucky we are.”
Organised by the school’s social justice co-ordinators Aidan Linehan and Sophie Moylan, the day-long event included a talk from 2005 Young Australian of the Year and former refugee Khoa Do, while more than 60 students and staff gave up their lunchtime to show solidarity with children who are held in Australian detention centres.
The day ended with a sleep out with more than 100 students and staff sleeping rough at school to share the experience of homeless people.
“This experience has showed us what the people in refugee camps go through . . . and we are only doing it for a short amount of time,” school leader Jacob Bailey said.
“It has made us all very much aware of what we take for granted everyday of our lives.”
