Defying the odds and topping the District

[sub_title color="#f2664c"] In Bhurkunda, a coal mining town to the south of Hazaribag in India, many families caught in a hand-to-mouth existence see education as too expensive. [/sub_title] [content color="#6d6e71"] However, Roshan Kumar’s parents see education as the vital pathway to help secure their children’s future. Roshan, a 16-year-old boy who loves cricket, is well and truly on the path of opportunity and change as he has recently topped the exams for his District.[break height="10"] Roshan’s father, Tinku, works hard to provide for his family and ensure his children can attend school. “I could not finish up to the graduation level. Life was very tough,” he says. “I don’t have any big dreams. My dream is to give my children a good education.”[break height="10"] “I did not go to school,” says Roshan’s mother, Sunita. “My mother had a small shop and I used to help her. When I grew up, I was married off and I have a family now… What we want is [for] our children to excel in their life.”[break height="10"] Roshan has been attending the Jesuit-run Catholic Ashram School for the past eight years. The school was established in the 1950s by the Jesuits to help poor families working in the coal mines and factories in the area. At the school, children from all walks of life are able to attend, and many are from poor families or tribal groups. Knowing the good reputation of the school, Roshan’s parents decided to send him there.[break height="10"] Since starting at the school, Roshan has been motivated by the example of other students, and studied hard over the years. This year, he sat the district exam and his hard work paid off, coming first place in the whole district. “I feel very good [about my results],” says Roshan. “My parents feel very proud, and my teachers help me to study so that I get this.”[break height="20"][/content] [image_caption]Roshan (second left) and his family are overjoyed by his excellent exam results. [/image_caption] [content color="#6d6e71"][break height="10"] Father Bob Slattery, an Australian Jesuit missionary who has been working with the schools, is proud of Roshan’s achievements as well. “They [Roshan’s family] struggle but yet he has done marvellous in exams and topped the district; so that is an example of how the education was given, proper learning, proper motivation, and they are going to go ahead very far.[break height="10"] “Without Australian supporters, the work would not have been possible… it is very inspiring for us who are here in the field that so many are supporting us without seeing the actual work.”[break height="20"][/content] [quotes]“We want to say a big thank you to all who supported the school and without them nothing would have been possible… In this school, all can study, be they poor or rich.” [/quotes][quotes_author color="#000"]– Roshan’s father[/quotes_author] [content color="#6d6e71"][break height="20"][/content] [call_action_button color="#6d6e71" link="/our-impact/" background="#ffd04c"]READ MORE[/call_action_button] [button_action link="/donate/" text="DONATE" background="#f2664c" color="#ffffff"]More

[sub_title color="#f2664c"]Jen came to us as a short-term volunteer, but she couldn’t say goodbye just yet.[break height="20"][/sub_title] [content color="#6d6e71"]At Jesuit Mission, we are thankful for the many helping hands of volunteers. We simply couldn’t survive without their support. And there’s something extra encouraging about seeing a young high school student show a heart for volunteering. Recently, we saw this when Jen, a Year 11 Sydney student, contacted us to ask if she could help us as a volunteer.[break height="10"] Jen was working towards the Duke of Edinburgh Award and needed to complete a short-term volunteer assignment. We set her up as a regular volunteer with Jesuit Mission in our national office. Not only were we grateful for the hard work she dedicated to us, it was also a privilege to share the ‘behind the scenes’ work that is vital to ensure our programs reach the world’s most vulnerable communities.[break height="20"][/content] [image_caption]Jen volunteering at the Sydney Jesuit Mission office.[/image_caption] [content color="#6d6e71"][break height="20"]When Jen had completed her volunteering assignment, she told us she wanted us stay on as a volunteer. We were delighted! And when we asked her why she was interested in continuing her volunteer service, Jen gave us some lovely reflections on her time volunteering with us: "The great thing about volunteering for Jesuit Mission is that there is a variety of work to do - making presentations, designing event invitations, sorting event materials."[break height="20"][/content] [quotes]“I have been able to see the full force and impact that Catholic ministries have had in addressing social injustices. I have developed new skills and have been informed about the needs of marginalised communities on a global scale. I have learnt there are integral roles and operations involved in operating a national not-for-profit organisation. And the individuals in the Jesuit Mission office are friendly and great to work with!”[/quotes] [content color="#6d6e71"][break height="20"]Thank you, Jen, for volunteering your time and skills. You’re a valuable member of the team.[/content] [content color="#6d6e71"]If you’re interested in volunteering for Jesuit Mission just like Jen, we’d love to hear from you - helping hands are always needed at events and in our office. Find out more about volunteer opportunities with Jesuit Mission >[/content]More

[sub_title color="#f2664c"]Year 7 student, Nathan, told us why he asked his classmates for their unwanted football boots. The answer blew us away.[break height="20"][/sub_title] [content color="#6d6e71"]Recently, we were very encouraged when Nathan, a Year 7 student from Watsonia showed incredible initiative and solidarity with students in Cambodia through his ‘Footy Boots for Cambodia’ project.[break height="10"] Nathan told us, “It all started when one of my teachers, Mrs Devlin, came up with the idea of all the Xavier House students to email students at Xavier Jesuit School in Cambodia because they only recently received internet with an email address.”[break height="10"] Through the email ‘pen pal’ program with their sister school in Cambodia, the students built wonderful friendships and learned about each other’s cultures. Nathan told his Cambodian friends all about Australian Rules Football. He was keen for them to experience the game firsthand but found out how difficult it was for them to get sports equipment.So Nathan came up with his idea – to collect unwanted football boots that his fellow students had outgrown and send them to his new friends in Cambodia.[break height="10"] After rallying his fellow students at Loyola College Watsonia, as well as local schools and organisations, Nathan ended up collecting close to 100 pairs of boots![break height="10"] He made sure to mention his family’s support and especially his grandmother’s special effort to help him - “I want to thank my Nonni who helped scrub clean the majority of the boots.”[break height="10"] When we asked Nathan what inspired him to go to all this effort, he said:[break height="10"][/content] [quotes]"I feel good that I can try to make a difference in the world and change people’s lives because students growing up in Cambodia are not as fortunate as us."[/quotes] [content color="#6d6e71"][break height="20"] “This experience has taken me out of my comfort zone. It has been great to see the local community get together and help make a difference alongside me. Next year, Mrs Devlin will be travelling to the school in Cambodia and will be able to find out what else they need… If help is needed, I am happy to be involved!”[break height="10"] It’s great to see the solidarity between students from Australia and Cambodia. Thank you, Nathan, for being an outstanding role model of compassion and leadership! [break height="20"][/content] [image_caption]Students in Cambodia with the donated football boots. Credit: Xavier Jesuit School[/image_caption] [content color="#6d6e71"][break height="30"]If you would like to donate items to Jesuit Mission please get in touch with us on (02) 8918 4109 or engagement@jesuitmission.org.au. Or find out more about donating goods to Jesuit Mission >[break height="30"][/content]More

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This years Maytime Fair will be on Saturday 3 May at Xavier College. 

The Maytime Fair is a grassroots community event attracting over 5,000 participants acting in solidarity to create a more inclusive and just world. This year Maytime Fair is on Saturday May 3 2025.     

All proceeds from the day will support the work of Jesuit Mission to empower vulnerable communities in over 10 countries in Asia and Africa, including Cambodia, Timor-Leste, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malawi and more.  

"I look forward to this celebration of hope and resilience. We stand together at the Maytime Fair, united in our mission to create positive change for our vulnerable sisters and brothers around the world,” said Helen Forde, CEO of Jesuit Mission. 

Since the year 2000, the Melbourne community has raised over $3 million from the Maytime Fair. This is a substantial amount of funds that has empowered thousands of women, men and children to develop the skills and capacity to lift themselves out of poverty and injustice. 

The Fair will include entertainment for parents and children with a huge array of food, music, rides, arts and crafts, games, plant stalls, book stalls, a wine auction, sports, face painting, raffles, showbags and lots more.  

"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the incredible team of generous volunteers, the Maytime Fair Committee, local parishes and to all schools involved, without you this wonderful day would not be possible,” said Ms Forde.  

You are invited to join the Xavier College community in supporting Jesuit Mission at the Maytime Fair on Saturday 3 May.  

When: 9:00am – 5:00pm Saturday 3 May 2025 Where: Xavier College Senior Campus, 135 Barkers Road, Kew  

Sponsorship opportunities  

The Maytime Fair attracts an audience of 5000+ people that including students and families from Xavier and 8 local Catholic schools. There are several opportunities available for partnership.  

We are looking for sponsors to support the event. You can sponsor a stall, sponsor a ride, sponsor an area of the Fair or Partner with us as a Principal event sponsor. For more information please contact support@jesuitmission.org.au 

Wine donations 

  

Your generous contribution will be advertised in our Catalogue.  There is also the opportunity to showcase your wines in a tasting prior to the Auction.   

We need the wine as soon as possible to get the catalogue organised.  

Donations can be dropped off at: Xavier College, 135 Barkers Road, Kew.   
Attention: Mr Gerry Sullivan.  

Book donations 

Book donations are welcome in Hawthorn. Please contact Susie on 9810 7300 to arrange a drop off time. 

Books need to be in resalable condition (not torn or damaged). Please note that we do not accept the following donations: 

Please note, we will not be accepting donations of books after Wednesday 9th April. 

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[sub_title color="#f2664c"]Long-term supporter, Michael, made an incredible gift which made clean water a reality for a poor community. [/sub_title] [content color="#6d6e71"][break height="10"]Sometimes a special opportunity comes up for a supporter to fund a project of their own.[break height="10"] A while ago we published an article in our newsletter about a remote village in Timor-Leste suffering terrible conditions because they didn’t have easy access to clean water. We mentioned the need to build a water-well for the community.[break height="10"] To our surprise, we received a call from Michael, a long-term Jesuit Mission supporter, saying he’d like to fund the building of the entire water-well himself. We were so excited to hear his enthusiasm and generosity![break height="10"] Michael made a simple yet powerful point when he explained his generous decision: [break height="10"][/content] [quotes]“One of the things that drew me to the project is that water is really one of the most basic things of life. Nothing can happen without water… To me it felt like, I could do that, one well all on my own.”[/quotes] [content color="#6d6e71"][break height="20"][/content] [image_caption]A community in Timor-Leste gathering to celebrate the opening of a new water tank.   [/image_caption] [content color="#6d6e71"][break height="20"]Michael first had contact with the Jesuits (including our Rector, Fr Trung Nguyen SJ) back in 1990s when he volunteered in the Kimberleys for the Broome Diocese. After seeing marginalised communities firsthand, Michael was inspired to become a supporter of Jesuit Mission.[break height="10"] Michael got right to work on his mission to fund the construction of the village water-well. As well as contributing personally, he asked his family and friends if they would commit to supporting the project - “A very big majority were more than happy to be involved in it. They could see the good in it.” [break height="10"] Michael talks about his fundraising with excitement - “It’s given new impetus to work. I think about it all the time. This money is doing a lot of good it’s helping a lot of people. As long as I’m able to work, I’m just going to keep doing it.”[break height="10"] We are incredibly thankful when supporters like Michael make projects like this into reality. Through his generosity and dedication, there is a water-well in Timor-Leste providing a remote village with clean water. Thank you, Michael![break height="30"][/content] [content color="#6d6e71"] If you feel inspired to support a Jesuit Mission project for communities living on the margins, we’d love to chat with you. [break height="10"]Contact our CEO, Helen Forde, on (02) 8918 4109 or support@jesuitmission.org.au for a confidential conversation, or find out more about supporting a project for Jesuit Mission. [break height="30"][/content]More

[sub_title color="#f2664c"]Aline, Louise and Kapinga are three inspiring young women who live in the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi, Africa.[/sub_title] [content color="#6d6e71"]Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, their story is one of innovation in an unexpected place and it’s just one example of how your support can help people think big, beyond the boundaries.[/content] [content color="#6d6e71"]Aline (15 years old), Louise (17 years old) and Kapinga (16 years old) all attend Dzaleka Secondary School, run by our partner organisation, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). The school provides the only secondary education in the camp and brings students a rare hope, lighting the way to a possible future beyond the camp.[/content] [break height="10"] [image_caption]Aline, Louise and Kapinga have hopes for their future beyond the confines of the camp.[/image_caption] [break height="10"] [content color="#6d6e71"] Established by the UNHCR in 1994 and intended as a temporary camp - Dzaleka is now home to over 30,000 people, who are unable to leave its confines or pursue education, training and employment opportunities in the wider community. Instead they are dependent on the limited resources of the camp, where malnutrition, sanitation and poverty are considerable issues. Sadly, there is nothing ‘temporary’ about Dzaleka. Some, like Aline, were born here. It’s all she’s known in her 15 years. [/content] [content color="#6d6e71"] In this environment, Louise, Aline and Kapinga’s altruism and academic initiative are truly remarkable. Epitomising Saint Ignatius’ call to be “men and women for others”, the girls decided to tackle the problem of people drowning on Lake Malawi. They applied their understanding of density to an innovative lifejacket design, using recycled plastic bottles for buoyancy. The result was a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution to water-safety. In a country where more than half the population live on less than US$1 a day, the majority of people can’t afford a lifejacket that costs $US17. [/content] [content color="#6d6e71"]The girls submitted their lifejacket in the Malawi National Schools Science Fair. They thought their entry was somewhat modest, but the judges immediately recognised its rich complexity and it was awarded the prestigious Scientific and Technological Innovation Award. The simple, functional and affordable design has the potential to save lives.[/content] [content color="#6d6e71"][/content][break height="10"] [quotes]“There’s no way to describe how I felt. I couldn’t believe my ears, I’ve never felt such joy as I felt on that day. It was like a dream which was becoming reality.”[/quotes] [quotes_author color="#000"]Kapinga, 16 year old student[/quotes_author] [content color="#6d6e71"][/content] [break height="10"] [break height="10"] [content color="#6d6e71"]Jesuit Mission supports projects with refugees and people seeking asylum in at least seven countries. These projects include providing education and livelihood skills training so that people living in refugee camps can be empowered to build better lives in the future.[/content] [content color="#6d6e71"][/content][break height="10"] [sub_title color="#f2664c"]Together, we can help advance the educational, vocational and employment opportunities for the most vulnerable among us.[/sub_title] [call_action_button color="#6d6e71" link="/donate/" background="#ffd04c"]DONATE[/call_action_button]More

[sub_title color="#f2664c"]On Good Friday, millions of Christians around the world will gather to walk the Stations of the Cross, to reflect upon, and commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ.[/sub_title] [content color="#6d6e71"] As people walk the Stations of the Cross, there is a sense of bewilderment when they see a good man mistreated and subjected to humiliation. They see a person who did so many good things becoming a victim of social political powers. They see an innocent person beaten, stripped of all dignity, and crucified. Walking the Stations of the Cross is a sign of solidarity with the suffering of Jesus, and in silent protest that this injustice should not have happened.[break height="10"] As we walk the Stations of the Cross this Friday, I would like to invite us to also remember and walk in solidarity with the thousands of people that are carrying their crosses each and every day. These are the women, men and children who are subjected to the cruel and harsh yoke of poverty. They are the victims of social and political systems that exploit and oppress them, looked-down upon and stripped of their dignity. They are the people living with uncertain futures for themselves and their children. And they are our neighbour.[break height="10"] ​​The difference of walking in solidarity with these people is that we don’t have to be silent. We can do something to make a difference.[break height="10"] This is the Easter message experienced in the resurrection of Jesus Christ - that despite total despair, there is still hope for a new life. Through being involved in Jesuit Mission's programs, people like those mentioned above experience new hope, and lives are transformed.[break height="10"] Wishing you the peace and joy of Easter, and an ever-increasing faith, hope, and love, to transform our world. [break height="10"] [break height="10"] - Fr Trung Nguyen SJ [/content]More

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Save the date for the 2025 Bazaar - Saturday 13 September

In an incredible show of community spirit and generosity, 10,000 guests flocked to last year's annual Jesuit Mission Bazaar at Saint Ignatius' College Riverview in Sydney!

Thank you to all of our amazing supporters and volunteers who came out for a joyful day of friendship and fundraising - schools, parishes, teachers, students, parents and friends.

Thank you for putting your faith into action by bringing joy to many here, but also touching the lives of those far beyond our immediate reach.

You can view more photos from the day at the link below.

View photos from the 2024 Bazaar

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About the Bazaar

The Jesuit Mission Bazaar is the major annual Jesuit Mission event in NSW, and has generously been hosted by Saint Ignatius' College in Riverview for many decades, and supported by other schools, local parishes and communities.

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