Students sleep out for homeless
Schools
A group of 80 students and nine staff from Cabra Dominican College raised more than $11,000 for the homeless by participating in the annual Vinnies Winter Sleepout on June 14.
Charlotte Partington, Year 10, said she decided to sleep out to try and understand what thousands of homeless people go through each night.
“Sleeping on cardboard without a pillow was difficult and very uncomfortable. Due to being positioned near the drain, I ended up sleeping on wet cardboard so my sleeping bag was soaked by morning. While I knew I was being protected, I still didn’t feel completely safe,” she said.
Edward Zara, Year 11, said he wanted to put himself into the shoes of someone who had to experience homelessness daily.
“It taught me that I should be grateful for having a warm bed and a home to live in and of how much of a difference simple, small actions can make,” he said.
Finding a comfortable position to sleep in was a challenge for Year 12 student Chloe van de Water but she said it was an eye-opening experience.
“I don’t know how thousands of people do it every night in much worse conditions,” she said.
Students from Sacred Heart and Cardijn colleges held a Vinnies Sleepout on the same night in the Br McAteer Centre.
The group heard from Steve Kelton of the Brighton Vinnies Conference about the work of the organisation, before settling in for an uncomfortable night sleeping on cardboard boxes.
As the rain came down, they were grateful for the roof over their head.
Students from Sacred Heart and Cardijn colleges at the sleepout in the Br McAteer Centre.
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