| Kew Cottage
Salesian College, Chadstone,
has always had the philosophy to be of assistance to
those less fortunate. In the mid 1980s two teachers
decided to start a program, that still exists today,
to welcome and entertain clients from the Kew Cottages.
This facility caters for the needs of clients with a
variety of physical and mental disabilities. This school
has the pleasure of the company of a small group of
clients each week.
The
program consists of a lunch with the students and then
a variety of activities throughout the lunch break usually
consisting of ball games on the school oval. Student
involvement in the program is purely voluntary and the
students that attend are those committed to helping
others and many usually stay with the program throughout
their stay at the College.
This
program encourages the students to be selfless and focus
on the needs of others. The clients look forward to
this program and for many it is the highlight of their
week and they bond well with the school community. The
entire College community continues to benefit from this
experience both directly and indirectly. All have become
more welcoming and tolerant of those in a different
situation to their own.
Over
the year, 20 to 30 students are directly involved and
most of those are entertained by the clients at the
conclusion of each year with a barbeque at Kew Cottages
where students also get the opportunity to see how this
facility caters for their friends.
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