On Friday, 29 May, Sancta Maria College held our annual Caritas Challenge. The Caritas Challenge is a fundraising and education event run by Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand. Students participated in hands-on activities which simulated the harsh realities faced by vulnerable communities around the world. Furthermore, these activities allowed us to reflect on the privileges we have, as well as giving to those less fortunate than ourselves. This year, the Caritas Challenge was opened to both junior and senior students.
The students participated in a range of activities based on the themes: ‘Move it, Sweat it, Live it, Stop it.’ They were put into teams having a mix of Year 7-13 students in each group to ensure fairness.
For ‘Stop It’, students had to give up everyday items by going without food and water, shoes and socks, and electronic devices for the duration of the challenge. Though they could ‘earn’ water through various challenges throughout the experience, this activity made students reflect on the lack of access to necessities that many people around the world face, and how privileged they are to have access to them.
As a part of the ‘Sweat It’ challenge, students participated in a variety of physical activities, including Jump Jam, a water bucket challenge, and a three-legged race. These activities required lots of Kotahitanga, where the students had to join in unity to work towards a shared goal, requiring trust in one another and having proper communication to successfully reach the finish line.
Before moving onto the next challenge, we were lucky to have a guest speaker who shared stories of people experiencing hardship and the impact that support from others can have on their lives. She focused on a story about a young girl who had gone through a difficult situation, but friendship and community had helped support her, demonstrating that even small acts of kindness can create meaningful change. This encouraged students to think about the struggles others face and how supporting them even with small gestures can mean a lot.
One of the highlights for the senior students was the Jungle Run, which represented the ‘Move It’ theme. Whilst blindfolded, the students followed strings of caution tape through the school that included unexpected distractions. After completing the challenge, students took part in a reflection activity where they had to discuss its deeper meaning. Many students recognised the uncertainty of moving forward for people fleeing their homes and navigating an unfamiliar future.
One of our last activities was the ‘Live It’ challenge, where students were grouped in teams of 10-12 people, and were tasked to build a shelter that was strong enough to hold everybody. Through this activity, students bonded together through creativity, resourcefulness, and skills while gaining a new perspective on the challenges people without housing go through.
Overall, participating in this challenge allowed us to reflect and be more grateful for the privileges we are provided with. We became aware of the challenges underprivileged people experience and what we as students in a developed country can do to support these people.
Thank you to the students who participated in the challenge to fundraise for Caritas, as well as the teachers who worked behind the scenes to carry on this annual challenge!
