Term 3 Social Justice Cause - Remote Laundries

The Remote Laundries Project is located in the Gunbalanya Community, Northern Territory.

The school is continuing to support Mercy Works and this term will focus on the Remote Laundries Project.

This term the school is supporting Mercy Works and their indigenous project - Remote Laundries. The Remote Laundries Project is located in the Gunbalanya Community, Northern Territory, and offers free laundry access, employment for local aboriginals to run the laundry, and health education to eradicate scabies and rheumatic heart disease.

Over the past years the school has supported the Mercy Works Chicken and Egg Program, however due to the success of this program, the new focus for the school will now be on Remote Laundries.

“Mercy Works focuses on providing ‘sustainable development’ so communities can get on with their lives, which is exactly what the Chicken and Egg Program delivered,” says Mrs M. Ekde, Dobson House Patron. “It is now time to move on to a new project.”

Remote Laundries was launched by House Patrons at House assemblies last week. Students were told about the program and how it aims to help indigenous communities. “By sharing with students the significant challenges faced by remote Aboriginal communities like Gunbalanya, 300 km east of Darwin, we are building their awareness and empathy,” Mrs Ekde said. “These communities face severe housing and utility shortages, making it difficult to prevent parasites and bacteria. As a result, more than 80% of children experience skin sores before their first birthday, which can lead to serious complications such as acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Through education, we are inspiring our students to support this cause and take meaningful action.”

A hot chocolate stall has already been held to start raising money for this worthy cause and on Tuesday, 2nd September students will have the opportunity to buy a gift at the Father’s Day Stall. Mercy Day will also have plenty of opportunities to give generously with lots of exciting stalls being planned!