Rosies Life On The Street
The Rosies Student Engagement Program is underway for 2022. Rosies is a not-for-profit organisation run by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, an Order of the Catholic Church which spends time with the marginalized, abandoned, isolated and lonely members of our community. MSM Year 11 students have shown their enthusiasm for taking up the challenge to step outside their comfort zones and attend the outreach. Rosies is about social inclusion, and offers a drink and a chat, providing patrons with a sense of inclusion increasing self-worth, directly impacting their physical and mental wellbeing.
Four groups have undertaken the outreach, with six groups still to attend. While our students are a little apprehensive on their way to the Rosies headquarters, they thoroughly enjoy engaging with the many patrons, some homeless, and many marginalised, and listening to their stories. The girls come home filled with a new appreciation for all the things that many of us take for granted – food, shoes, warm clothes, security and a social network.
Year 11 Homerooms have been collecting various donations for Rosies including share packs of food, sugar and toiletries, while the staff have been collecting socks.
Thanks must go to the teachers who have volunteered their time to accompany the girls on each outreach. The opportunity to volunteer for this outreach encourages the development of empathy, self-esteem and leadership and helps the students to embrace the Rosies motto, ‘Rosies…Friends on the Street’.