LIVING JUSTLY EXCURSION TO WELLSPRINGS FOR WOMEN

On Tuesday 5 May, 8 of our Living Justly leaders from Year 9 to Year 12 had the privilege of visiting Wellsprings for Women in Dandenong, one of the three Kildare Ministries community works. Wellsprings for Women is a place created by women, for women, offering safe, culturally responsive and flexible programs that empower women to live with dignity, free from violence and full of possibility.

From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed into the community. The students were guided through the organisation, meeting key staff, volunteers, and participants involved in the many programs and classes that make this organisation such a vital support network for women in the region.

This year, our Living Justly team focused on supporting the women of Wellsprings through a Mother’s Day initiative. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our school community, over 700 items were donated. These contributions allowed students to create 140 beautifully curated hampers, each paired with a heartfelt, handwritten card.

The gratitude expressed by the Wellsprings for Women community was profound. These were not just hampers; they were messages of solidarity, compassion and recognition. They were reminders that every woman deserves to feel valued and celebrated. The Living Justly leaders had the honour of hand delivering each hamper and participating in a Mother’s Day celebration filled with traditional food and cultural music. The quote “we arrived as strangers and left as friends” was the best way to express the spirit of the day.

This excursion marks the beginning of a strong and meaningful partnership between our school community and Wellsprings for Women. Throughout the year, we will continue to fundraise, with all funds to directly support Wellsprings for Women’s Holiday Program for Children. We will also be introducing an ‘action’ raising initiative, encouraging all members of our school community to walk in solidarity through action.

Our Living Justly leaders will be launching our partnership with Wellsprings in Week 4, so we invite our community to stay connected as this journey unfolds.

Website: Wellsprings for Women 

Bridget Taylor

Living Justly leader