Socktober 2026 kicks off in style
Local
As the 2026 football World Cup begins to fully engage nations around the globe – including Australia after the Socceroos’ stunning opening round win over Turkiye – 20 students at an Adelaide primary school joined Archbishop Patrick O’Regan and Catholic Mission Adelaide on Friday 19 June to launch a football related fundraiser to help communities facing poverty in eastern Africa.
Socktober 2026 will allow students at St Anthony’s School, Edwardstown, to learn about the challenges facing many children and families in Malawi, a landlocked country abutting the Great Rift Valley and Lake Malawi.
While known for its strong sense of community and deep faith, many people in Malawi face poverty, food insecurity and limited access to education amid the impacts of natural disasters. Hence the Year 6 students getting together to try and help.
Working in pairs, the students will ask family members for odd socks and t-shirts, pieces of foam and plastic shopping bags as the basic ingredients to make a sockball (quite literally, a ball of socks wrapped around a chunk of foam). Sponsorship and donations are likely to materialise later in Term 3 at a penalty shootout involving both a standard soccer ball, plus the more unpredictable sockball.
Socktober is intended to show students how they can make a difference through prayer, learning and fundraising, while deepening their understanding of Catholic social teaching and their role as missionary disciples.
The event was held as part of Mission Month, following the initiative of Year 6 teacher, Eloise Di Sisto, who was keen to strengthen St Anthony’s involvement in Socktober.
School principal Stuart Baker is very much onboard with the decision to try and help other people less fortunate than ourselves.
“Socktober reflects the heart of our school’s mission and commitment to living out the Gospel,” he said.
“It helps students see that they are part of a global community and that their choices, compassion and generosity can truly make a difference.”
The pupils were very keen too.
“Socktober is important because it helps people in Malawi know that they are not alone and that others care about them,” said Year 6’s Ashton and Hudson while fellow classmate Andrej focused on the World Cup.
“Soccer is important because it inspires people to follow their dreams and encourages them to stay fit and healthy,” he said.
Catholic Mission Adelaide Diocesan director, Tony Johnston, is adamant the fundraiser enables young people to connect their faith with action.
“Socktober helps students understand that mission is about walking alongside others and recognising that we are part of one global family,” he said. “Through prayer, learning and fundraising, young people discover that their actions can bring hope and opportunity to communities around the world.”
Throughout Socktober students will be encouraged to reflect on how they can live out the Gospel in their daily lives and become missionaries of hope within their own schools, families and communities.
Learn more about Socktober at socktober.org.au or contact Tony Johnston at tjohnston@catholicmission.org.au
