Manning: St Pius X Catholic Primary School students working to break cycle of poverty

STUDENTS from St Pius X Catholic Primary School are working to break the cycle of poverty by helping children in need around the world.

The school community in Manning has been working throughout the year to fundraise for a social justice project, called School Bags for Kids.

As part of the project, staff and students have collected school supplies for children in Kenya, Vietnam and Myanmar to support their education for a whole year.

Assistant principal Stephanie Johnson said the school community was always looking to help others and this project was the most “authentic” way the students could make an impact.

“This social justice project allowed students to collect a range of everyday things that they would normally take for granted such as pencils, pens and textas and create a bag for another child who does not have the opportunity to have access to these things,’ she said.

“School Bags for Kids aims to enable orphans and street children to receive education and break the cycle of poverty.”

Ms Johnson said the children didn’t mind walking miles to school if they were offered supplies that their parents could not afford, let alone feed them.

“Participating in this social just project has allowed our students to see that not all children are as lucky as they are,” she said.

“There are lots of children around the world who can’t even go to school because they do not have the materials to be able to do so.

“It is important that our students at St Pius X are active citizens who are aware that there are others need help.”