Year 9 Reflection Day

Tuesday 30 July was an amazing day for Year 9 students and the staff involved in the many activities that will certainly make a difference in the lives of hundreds of young women across the world. Domremy College was able to host the inaugural joint ‘period poverty awareness’ workshop in collaboration with Good Neighbours Australia partnered by Days for Girls Australia in the sessions before lunchtime, and then hear the story of Shukria, a psychologist from Afghanistan, who escaped the wrath of the Taliban on 24 August 2020. We are very grateful to Sr Mary Walsh (pbvm) who is working with Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA).

Through the questions asked by Sr Mary and the Domremy students, we were able to gauge the complexities and challenges of life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, and also learn that Shukria hopes that her two-year-old son, will grow up to make a difference in the world, and hopefully be able to return to Afghanistan one day to meet his grandfather. Both experiences of the day were a wonderful opportunity to remind the students of the value of education, which many girls are robbed of for various reasons in other parts of the world.

The facilitators of the day commented that the whole team was so impressed with the student cohort and how well-organised the event was. We look forward to working in partnership for future events to produce these life-changing gift packs, knowing how valuable the packs are to girls in developing countries. The volunteers from the groups ran an effective and organised session to ensure the young girls will be able to continue to be educated every day of the month.

If you are looking for an inspirational book to read, The Powers of Days by Celeste Mergens may provide more insight into why Year 9 Domremy students are confident that they will be able to make a difference in the lives of “every girl, everywhere, period.”

The theme of the day was inspired by the Greatest Commandment found in:

Mark 12:30-31

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ 

Mrs Jane Sullivan, Religious Education Coordinator