Helping Students Speak Out On Injustice
Recently a Justice For Youth team accompanied by students from Biola University in California took a 30 day trek to Australia and had the privilege of spending a day at the McAULEY CHAMPAGNAT PROGRAMME in Shepparton. Shepparton is a country town in the southern state of Victoria that has the second largest Aboriginal population in Australia and is home to a wide diversity of nationalities.
The McAULEY CHAMPAGNAT PROGRAMME was developed in 2006 to meet the educational needs of “at risk” students in the Greater Shepparton region. Founded by Marcellin Champagnat in France during the 19th Century, “The Marist Brothers commit ourselves to be more present among children and young people on the margins of our societies. We respond to the urgent calls that come to us from young people who really are at risk, for example, street children, those who are illiterate, victims of drugs and violence.” (XIX General Chapter, Mission, 33)
The JFY team gave a presentation on human trafficking prevention, human trafficking solutions, gendercide and the plight of at risk youth around the world. The challenge was made to the students at MCP—all who are are struggling with various levels of rejection and abuse— to look outside themselves and connect with others who were struggling with similar issues around the world.
The challenge resonated, not only with the youth (many who were already exploring justice issues), but also with certain members of the MCP staff. A conversation has begun, and we at JFY have committed to connect with MCP by creating a blog, providing a forum where the students in this remarkable facility can speak out on the issues of human trafficking and other issues of justice for youth worldwide!
Ray Gallagher on MCP
http://youtu.be/7V4u6edR_Hg
Katrina Mohamed on MCP…
http://youtu.be/o33GI5fubpM
