St John’s students donate to Father Themi’s mission

This year’s St John’s College Art Show, to take place on Thursday 11 September, will see college students from Prep to Year 12 create awareness of the devastation that the civil war has had on the Sierra Leone community.

St John’s College students decided that they wanted to investigate how they can participate in a school or community project to raise funds and to contribute to the world at large, with all the proceeds of the show to be donated to the missionary work of Father Themi in Sierra Leone and his commitment to improving
the basic living conditions of the people he ministers to.

Leading up to the event, students will participate in a day of cross curricular activities where they will be given the opportunity to learn more about currency, trade, food, water, education, civil war and the work of Father Themi, who is expected to visit the school on September 8 to share his experience firsthand with the students of St John’s College.

Students will be encouraged to have rice and water on the day, and obtain sponsorship to raise funds for the event. St John’s food technology students will prepare the rice and parents will also be on hand to assist with the distribution of the rice lunch.

The sustainability priority of St John’s students will also be reflected at this year’s Art Show, through their continued efforts to recycle to protect their environment and by creating an awareness of the importance of living in an ecologically and socially just world.

The title for this year’s art show, ‘Freedom’, came from a glass graffiti wall that was created by VCE student Zoe Kehagias. Zoe was inspired by her desire for personal freedom and recognised this as a universal concept that affects all humanity.

Hence, her glass panel incorporates the inscription ‘freedom’ in the languages of the world.

St John’s College Prep-Year 12 Art Show will take place on Thursday 11 September, from 3.00 pm to 5.30 pm. All the proceeds from the show will be donated to the Kids 4 Africa charity and in particular the work of Father Themi in Sierra Leone.