St. Olivers Change Makers Challenge

St. Olivers Change Makers Challenge

By Deanna, Emelia, An, Jamie, Anthony & Julian.

What Happened On The Day?

On the 16th of October our school went technology free for a whole 24 hours!! We spent the day in the shoes of the school kids in developing countries. We only had one piece of paper to last us the whole day and we could only use one pen.In the morning, we walked a few laps of our oval to simulate school kids walking a few kilometres to school and we also did that at the end of school.For lunch all we ate was a bowl of rice. 10 kids were chosen to have chicken with their rice, showing the wealthier kids who can afford a better lunch.10 kids also were chosen to wear casual clothes which is a privilege to us but embarrassing to the kids who cant afford a school uniform.Half of our recess we had to do a exercise programme which is what kids in developing countries do.We had to donate a coin to receive a test and proceed to the next level and if you couldn’t afford it you wouldn’t be able to proceed to the next level.Two senior classes were squished into one classroom and we shared tables.For all subjects we had to share a piece of paper to read off.

What Subjects did we learn?

For every subject we studied we had to sit a test. However, we had to pay for each test. One of the students discovered that in Kenya you have to pay for a test to pass to the next grade.We were lucky we all had lots of money to pay for the tests throughout the whole day. In Kenya not everyone has the money to pay for tests so they can’t pass to the next level.

What we realized?During the day we all realized how lucky we are living in Australia compared to other school kids in developing countries. We have the right school supplies and we can afford more than poorer families.We also realized that we have a lot more opportunities then the kids in the Philippines, if we want to become a doctor for example, we can get the education to become one, but in the Philippines they don’t have those opportunities or education that we do.

How has our thinking changed since the Change Makers Challenge?

Our thinking has changed by us not taking things for granted and now we are willing to tell other people to donate to Bahay Tuluyan and even sponsor a child.

Pictures of our Day!!

Walking in the morning

Assembly with Kelvin ThompsonIn the classroom doing work

WritingReading Exercise at recess

Eating rice for lunchLining up for lunch

Paying for our maths test

Maths testSpelling test Geography

Religion

Packed classroom

Walking homeSecond lap walking home

Thankyou for watching!!!

Children in the Philippines Our Change Makers Challenge day