Clonard College Deepens Partnership with Wellsprings for Women

Clonard College continues its commitment to Kildare Ministries through our ongoing partnership with Wellsprings for Women; a community organisation created by women, for women. Wellspring for Women provides safe, inclusive and culturally responsive programs for women who have newly arrived in Australia, supporting them to build dignified, independent and hope‑filled futures.

On Thursday, our Year 9 and Year 10 students welcomed three courageous women from Wellsprings for Women. They generously shared their stories and the impact of the work of Wellsprings for Women. These encounters help students develop genuine empathy, understanding and connection, strengthening the partnership between our communities.

This year marks the 32nd anniversary of Wellsprings for Women. This is an incredible milestone that celebrates decades of advocacy, empowerment and thousands of women whose lives have been transformed through their programs.

This term in Religious Education, Year 9 students will support the fundraising efforts on Brigidine Day, contributing to our school goal of raising $10,000 for Wellsprings for Women.  Year 10 students will continue their engagement through the Spirituality of Responsibility unit, exploring outreach opportunities to promote advocacy, justice and hope. This includes three opportunities to visit Wellsprings for Women and witness their work firsthand.

These initiatives reflect our shared commitment to justice. We look forward to the possibilities ahead as we work together toward a more just and equitable world for all.

Student reflections:

(LW – Year 10)
The Wellsprings for Women incursion provided us with a deep, authentic insight into the lives of women and girls who have had the misfortune of being trapped and restricted by their country. Our guests Monira, Kawsar, and Khatira recounted their own personal stories of being young women in Afghanistan, equally as ambitious, passionate, and intellectual as our Clonard girls, yet robbed of the opportunity to learn, to work, to fulfil their aspirations, goals and dreams. The Wellsprings organisation supports women of similar backgrounds who have migrated to Australia and are in need of support, materials and resources. Hearing about this Kildare Ministries organisation and the work they do to help these women has instilled my hope for a future filled with women succeeding prosperously all around the world.

(SZ – Year 10)
It was interesting to see how much confidence and resilience it would have taken for those women to leave everything behind and move to a country where they didn’t know the language or much about the country. I thought they were incredibly brave and I found their stories really interesting. 

(ST – Year 10)
I felt grateful that I have a safe home, school, family and environment to live in.

(MJ – Year 10)
I enjoyed listening to their individual stories and journeys. It also made me realise how lucky we are in Australia and that I should be more grateful for the daily privileges that I take for granted. 

Very informative and it’s a new perspective when you hear it from people who have experienced it (EP – Year 10)

(NW – Year 10)
I found it interesting to listen to the women’s stories and realise how privileged we are. 

(GF – Year 10)
It made me realise how lucky I am to be able to go to school and have an education and how much we take for granted in our daily lives. 

(CC – Year 10)
I thought that the Wellsprings for Women presentation was very informative and eye-opening, especially the fact that we were able to hear the stories from people who were there and actually experienced these things first-hand.