News

Megan Galusha
Public relations editorial intern

An Avondale staff member and students challenged their classmates and colleagues to make poverty history as part of the college's first Make A Difference (MAD) Week, October 13-18.

A range of activities and events--highlighted by the construction of a mock refugee camp in the middle of the Lake Macquarie campus--raised awareness of poverty and other social justice issues. The camp operated for 40 hours, beginning Wednesday afternoon and ending Friday morning. Coordinator Jessica Parsons, president of student club One Mission, says the camp made a "huge statement" because students could not only see it but also experience living in it. Those who chose the later--about 20 each evening--slept under tarpaulins and ate food made from only rice and rolled oats. Reflecting on the movie Invisible Children, which those in the camp watched on Thursday evening, Jessica says, "It opened everyone's eyes. They realised why they were doing this, and they got to see who they were helping."

Earlier on Wednesday, representatives from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)--Australia, Adventist Volunteer Service, Asian Aid, International Children's Care (ICC), Pacific Yacht Ministries, Southlakes Women's Refuge, student clubs COSMOS and One Mission, and Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church groups Crankt and Tools spoke at student assembly.

MAD Week coordinator Brad Watson, a lecturer in development studies and geography in the Faculty of Arts, coordinated a rare meeting between representatives from ADRA, Asian Aid and ICC later in the day. The four discussed commonalities and the possibility of meeting again in the future.

Brad and Asian Aid chief executive officer Sharon Heise also presented during colloquium on Thursday findings from their research into uterine prolapse in Nepal: the impact of hysterectomy on 100 poor women.

A car wash the same day raised $220 for COSMOS.

Some 220 students responded to ADRA--Australia chief executive officer Jonathan Duffy's call to stand up against poverty, during the Friday evening worship program 7.28. The call came as part of a worldwide Christian campaign called Micah Challenge, which aims to halve absolute poverty by 2015.

The MAD Week message even came to students at Avondale Schools, Central Coast Adventist School, Macquarie College and Toronto Adventist Primary School, as Brad and his team spoke at the schools' chapels.

Student Associated Ministries leader Krystle Praestiin says the week reminded students of their privileged status. "We have a roof over our heads, clean drinking water, health care and are free from abuse and forced prostitution, and we have the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ and the freedom to worship Him." She hopes the week will do more than raise awareness. "I hope God has used MAD Week to move people to take action."

MAD Week coincided with the United Nation's annual International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17).

Caption: A mock refugee camp reminded staff members and students of their privileged status while also raising awareness of poverty.
Credit: Ann Stafford