Angelina Barnsdall knows that you can’t make a global impact alone. So she inspired her fellow students at Barker College to come together, raise funds and, as a school, sponsor six students from some of the world’s poorest countries in partnership with Compassion Australia. 

“At our school we have a motto called ‘The Red Thread’,” says Miss Barnsdall (left), who is in Year 10 and a school house captain. “It represents the connectedness of each Barker student. Just as the red thread symbolises the interconnectedness of our school community, I wanted to encourage students to remember that our actions, regardless of how big or small, are intricately linked to the wellbeing of those in need.”

Each year group, from Year 7 to Year 12, is sponsoring a different child and is responsible for organising fundraising, letter writing and celebrating the achievements of these children. 

Students banded together to sell food and drinks at Barker’s annual House Fair in March, raising $3500 – which was enough to completely cover the sponsorship costs of six children for the first year. The initiative aligns with the school’s global vision of inspiring hope. 

The head of Butters House in the Senior School, teacher Sally Filtness, is sure this will positively contribute to the development of each student’s character. “It’s a great initiative that I believe will increase the students’ global awareness, empathy and foster a sense of responsibility and cultural understanding,” she says. 

Compassion Australia is greatly encouraged by the students’ efforts and initiative. Cooper Kruize, the organisation’s business development partnership team manager, says it’s a great example of how Compassion seeks to empower the next generation of leaders. 

“Our partnership with schools is much deeper than fundraising,” he says. “Our goal is to support schools in cultivating empathy, compassion and global awareness in students. We aim to provide students with meaningful opportunities to help alleviate child poverty, inspiring them that their actions can truly make a difference.” 

Miss Barnsdall hopes that through writing letters, students will learn more about the children they are sponsoring, foster deep connections and grow in understanding of the challenges they face. 

“Together, I know that the students at Barker College will make a difference, one act of compassion at a time. Each kind gesture, each act of support, is like a stitch in the tapestry of compassion that we are collectively weaving.”

This story is part of our Choices: Anglican Education feature in the June-July edition of Southern Cross magazine