Sharing The Story at Holy Cross

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Kids Congress 2007

This year four children and two teachers from Holy Cross attended the Kid's Congress 2007 held at the Australian Catholic University, Strathfield. It seeks to combine social justice issues and communicate them through various technologies. This year’s theme, ‘Kids Care – Earth Share’ had delegates focused on environmental issues such as climate change, drought and water conservation, pollution and energy alternatives.

The students who attended on 22nd-23rd November were from Years 5-8 from over 50 Catholic schools in the Parramatta, Broken Bay and Sydney Dioceses.

The congress, which is a joint initiative of the Catholic Education Office, Parramatta and the Australian Catholic University, is an event ‘for kids run by kids’. Students as young as 10, hosted technology workshops and others acted as media representatives. Even the technical support for the congress was provided by students. Artwork created by the students on the theme, which this year included digital art, decorated the main auditorium.

Over the two days young people shared their ideas for making the world a better place. Workshop sessions had students working in groups to complete a multimedia project on the issue that most concerned them. Applications such as Legomation, voice threads, podcasts, Design Studio and Google Sketchup were utilised, allowing students to create a presentation that could then be used within their own school communities to raise awareness of social justice issues.

The keynote address, ‘It takes just one to make a difference’, was given by Jenni Downes, a young arts graduate who has been working in a slum area in Nairobi and who will be returning to Kenya next year to continue her work. The great debate featured students from Parramatta Marist Westmead and OLMC Parramatta. As usual the rock band from Terra Sancta College delighted the children with their music.

It was a great experience and one the six of us from Holy Cross will remember!

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