Description

Fundraising for and communication with students at the Panjshir Valley Sister School is coordinated by the student Social Justice Committee at Asquith through the Mahboba's Promise program. The students of the SJC organise a variety of fundraising and awareness-raising activities throughout the year. A major event is the annual International Womens' Day Breakfast where all proceeds and donations gathered go towards simple educational and survival needs of the Panjshir Valley girls, such as shoes, an electrical generator, and a camera. Students at the two schools also exchange letters, photos, and hand-made gifts such as personalised photo frames.

School/TAFE/Institution

Asquith Girls' High School, Yrs 7-12

Cause

Promoting Womens' Rights

Peace Link

We share not only some of our resources but also our thoughts, feelings, and hands of friendship in our exchanges with the girls and women at our sister school in Panjshir Valley. As we share of ourselves we learn about their struggle to empower and educate themselves and other young women so that they can fully participate in and contribute to their country's development. It pushes us to reflect on the situation of women in our own community and country - both the contrasts and the similarities - and motivates us to continue to work for women's rights locally as well as globally.

Successes

Our connection has given others the opportunity to rise above the difficulties imposed upon them by an unfair world, and the chance to exercise their own influence, including by educating us in return. At a superficial level we can measure our success by how much money we raise each year that benefits the girls at Abdara School, however the more lasting and some ways more important outcomes of building friendships and learning about each others' cultures are much harder to measure.

Future Plans

If the project can be passed on to new students who come to Asquith; if it continues to grow each year and if the relationship with the Panjshir valley Community continues to develop - then we'll know we have success.

Other Peace Work

Throughout the school year, The Asquith Girl’s High School Social Justice Team run three main events, along with many other activities to help those within our school, the community, and our sister school in Afghanistan. Our three main events are: International Women’s Day Breakfast – An annual event that has occurred for the last six years, the International Women’s Day Breakfast helps the students of Asquith Girl’s and the local community to recognize the outstanding achievements of women all around the globe. This year’s theme is influential women. This event is extremely well known in our local community, attracting guests such as local Parliament members and business owners. The Breakfast is entirely student run, with all proceeds from the day going to our chosen charity, Mahboba’s Promise, which looks after the needs of our sister School in Afghanistan. Multicultural Day- This is a day for the students of Asquith Girl’s High School to understand what it means to live in a multicultural society. The day is intended to promote peace, equality, acceptance, multiculturalism and friendship. A special assembly allows girls of the school to showcase traditional garments, music, and dance from their various backgrounds, and cultural food is served at lunchtime. Overall, the day is a chance to realize how lucky we are to live in a peaceful country surrounded by friends from every corner of the globe. Christmas Hampers- Every year before Christmas, The Social Justice Team organize for each girl within the school to bring in a non-perishable food or toiletry item which will be added to the Christmas hampers. The Team wraps the hampers, and they are sent to a local charity branch. Last year, Asquith Girl’s High School donated 25 (!!!!) hampers packed full of goodies to the Red Cross. As well as these three main events, smaller events are hosted throughout the year such as Pink Ribbon Day, Bandage Bear Day, and Jeans for Genes Day etc. Senior members of the team also attend various functions and peace talks.

Video

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