Combining Forces for Developing Nations
The members of Ralston and Messiter Houses rallied the Wenona community for a charity with big aspirations and a huge heart.
RAM Day last Thursday 29 February, saw the members of both Ralston and Messiter Houses take advantage of the soaring temperatures, to tempt us with ice blocks, drinks, and other treats to quench thirst and delight taste buds.
They were raising money for the Andrew Woinarski Foundation, which provides education to underprivileged students across Asia.
The charity was created in honour of the late Andrew Woinarski, the uncle of Year 12 student and Messiter House member, Saskia. She and her friend Lucy (Messiter House Captain), have both travelled with the Foundation and seen first-hand the life-changing impact of education. “My uncle Andrew passed when he was still quite young,” Saskia said. “He had a keen interest in helping children in impoverished Asian communities, where he spent a great deal of his time.”
Partnered with the charity Child's Dream, the Andrew Woinarski Foundation has so far built 12 schools, providing places for more than 1,500 students in places like rural Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos.
“Education opens a larger door to a future where children have the knowledge and self-confidence to make their own choices and changes,” Saskia said. “By connecting with the children, Lucy and I were also able to understand how fortunate we are to have access to the education we have here in Australia.”