Project Compassion
At our Ash Wednesday liturgy, we launched Project Compassion 2023. As Caritas Australia’s main annual fundraising campaign, Project Compassion aims to raise much-needed funds to help alleviate poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity in the most vulnerable and marginalised communities in the world. Project Compassion is an extraordinary demonstration of the faith, empathy and generosity of our Catholic community.
This week, the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
The theme of Project Compassion 2023 is ‘For All Future Generations’ and reminds us that the good we do today extends to impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues. We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through prayer, fasting and almsgiving in support of Project Compassion. Each family will receive a Project Compassion box and/or a set of envelopes for their donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion
In this season of Lent, we encourage all students to give what they can for those that aren't as lucky as us.
We begin our annual Lenten Project Compassion journey by learning about Laxmi, a 16-year-old girl living in Jajarkot, a remote district in Nepal where almost half of the population lives below the poverty line. Tragedy struck when Laxmi was 10 years old, and her father passed away. Her father worked hard to pay for his children's education and after losing him, Laxmi was at risk of falling further into extreme poverty.
With the support of our partner Caritas Nepal, Laxmi joined a child's club at her school, where she was encouraged to resume her education. Through the child’s club, Laxmi developed the skills and confidence to become a leader, advocating for clean water taps at her school.
Laxmi is now excelling in her studies and working towards her dream of becoming a civil engineer. She continues to be involved in the child's club, serving as an advisor and mentoring the next generation of young leaders at her old school.
Watch a short film about Laxmi’s story here.
Please support Project Compassion: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion.