Earlier in the year, Waverley College was invited to take part in the Catholic Earthcare Youth Summit online with Mount St Benedict College. The aim of the summit was to share the amazing things schools are doing in the ecological space, inspired by Laudato Si’ and in turn, inform and inspire our 2022 school leaders to strive for greater efforts within school.
Student participants were selected from each school. Years 10 and 11 students were the main focus for student-led actions within schools, to help:
- Lead the identification of ecological initiatives that have already been implemented and report these during the Eco-Summit in a creative way
- Network with peers to participate in storytelling
Bert Cottell (Year 10) who is a member of our ‘Students of the World Ecology Group’, was selected to represent Waverley College and participate in the full day online Zoom Summit.
What did Bert think of the day?
“On 10 November, I was given the incredible opportunity by Ms Sutcliffe, to attend the New South Wales Catholic Earthcare Youth Summit as a representative for Waverley College’s ‘Students of the World Ecology Group.’
This Summit allowed me to connect with students who have a strong interest in the environment and care about what can be done to reduce climate change. The Catholic Earthcare Youth Summit was a meeting to raise awareness and have meaningful, productive discussions about issues surrounding the environment, and how schools can be involved in making changes.
The summit was a chance for me to hear about what other schools are doing, and gave me some great ideas we can incorporate at our own school. In attendance were several environmental guest speakers: Alicja Borciuch (Australian Young Christian Workers), Ann Marie Brennan (a COP26 representative), Katarina Kabiriera and Taabeia Ibouri (Good Samaritan ministry in Kiribati), and finally, Bishop Long (the fourth Bishop of Parramatta.)
All the guest speakers gave us an intimate understanding into what the Catholic Church is doing for the environment, and how climate change is affecting the world around us. I am honoured that Waverley College gave me the opportunity to attend.”
Bert Cottell (Year 10)
We cannot wait to hear all about these shared experiences when the ‘Students of the World Ecology Group’ meets next and to discuss what we can look to implement here at Waverley College in 2022.
>>> Click here to view more information on Catholic Earthcare.
Ms Rebecca Sutcliffe
Geography Teacher and Ecology Coordinator
E: rsutcliffe@waverley.nsw.edu.au
