Seeds of Justice – Stirring Up Hope (And 100 Hot Meals!)
What do you get when you bring together 11 passionate Year 10s, a deep dive into homelessness, a stack of vegetables, and a whole lot of heart?
An unforgettable day of learning, reflection and real action at the Seeds of Justice Conference.
Held at Aranmore College, the event brought together young people from Santa Maria College, Mercedes, St Brigid’s, Aranmore and Ursula Frayne Catholic Colleges.
The theme? Hope for All: Transforming the Future of Homelessness, a big topic, but one our girls tackled with energy and purpose.
Real People. Real Stories.
The day began with a thought-provoking presentation from Ruah Community Services, a WA-based organisation that works with people experiencing homelessness.
Ruah’s team shared stories from the frontline, from Safe Night Spaces for women and crisis referrals to the simple dignity of having access to a hot meal or a shower. These stories didn’t just inform – they stirred something in the room.
“From this conference, I now have new knowledge and ideas on homelessness and how we can help,” said Ava B. “I thought it was important to get together with other schools so we can discuss what we are already doing and bounce new ideas off each other to take back to our own schools.”
There was a definite mood shift. The girls weren’t just listening anymore, they were starting to imagine what they could do.
Getting Involved
After the presentations, it was time to dive in. Our students took part in three creative, collaborative sessions – each one offering a different lens on homelessness in WA.
Brainstorming
Why does homelessness happen? What can be done about it? In groups with students from other schools, our girls explored the bigger picture, housing, mental health, family violence, and the human side behind the statistics.
Planning
Next up, it was time to think practically. The teams developed fundraising ideas and community initiatives that could support services like Ruah.
“I really enjoyed going to Aranmore College for the Seeds of Justice conference as we got to make new friends and collaborate on ideas for fundraisers and awareness campaigns with the other schools,” said Ava P
Cooking for Change
And then, the kitchen called. With sleeves rolled up and plenty of teamwork, our students helped cook and pack 100 hot meals to be delivered to Ruah’s clients.
“Cooking meals for the homeless was a highlight of the day as it really made you feel like your work was worth it and was going to be appreciated by someone who is in need,” shared Therese.
Ava P added, “We also cooked Mexican Rice to donate to a food bank, it was super fun to make and smelt delicious!”
And for Ava B, it was a clear favourite too: “My highlight of the day was doing cook-ups for Ruah and meeting new people from other schools.”
A Moment to Pause
The day ended with a quiet, moving liturgy and a badge ceremony, a time to acknowledge each student’s mission. There was a real sense of pride and purpose in the room.
The girls left not only inspired but equipped with new ideas to bring back to our own Seeds of Justice meetings, ready to take the next steps.
Mercy In Motion
Throughout the day, our girls showed what Mercy in action looks like:
- Compassion, by listening with open hearts
- Collaboration, working with peers from other communities
- Initiative, stepping in wherever help was needed
- Critical Thinking, asking tough questions and exploring solutions
They embodied the values of justice, service and empathy, not just by learning, but by doing.
Final Thought
This wasn’t just another excursion. It was a powerful reminder that small, thoughtful efforts can create big waves of change, especially when driven by the hearts and hands of young people.
- CatholicEducation, Featured, HomelessnessAwareness, MercyInAction, RuahCommunityServices, SeedsofJustice, StudentConference, StudentLeadership, Year10Students
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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