Southern Cross Catholic College’s Year 11 student, Hailey Penna-Collins took it upon herself to start a week-long fundraising drive for the people of Ukraine. She met with the College Leadership team for approval, came up with ideas and rallied her troops to get multiple fundraising ideas.

Hailey’s aim was to raise $2,000 but she was able to raise almost an extra $1,000 on top of this and is so grateful to her wonderful College community. 

We asked Hailey to answer the following questions about this amazing initiative. 

• What inspired you to start the fundraising campaign?

Initially, I wasn’t very moved by the war. It was so far away, and though myself and other students were aware of it, we were more interested in the potential for WW3 than we were about Ukraine. It wasn’t until I read Ruth Harnett-Carr’s (a Southern Cross staff member, but also the daughter of Ukrainian Immigrants) Facebook posts that I realised that even though the war was so far away, it was happening. It was real, and I found myself suddenly very grateful that I wasn’t involved. It was the next day that a Ukrainian hospital and maternity ward was bombed, thousands of children had been forced to flee the country. With those despicable events, my viewpoint altered; I would do whatever I could to help these victims, victims who were my age, victims who just like me wanted to live life freely, victims who deserved to live in peace. 

• What kind of fundraising events and activities did you do to raise funds?

We had a lot on throughout the week. For fundraising events, there were raffles, lolly jar guesses, soft drink sales, doughnut sales, and free dress day. For awareness activities, I - in collaboration with Media teacher Mr Penna - interviewed Mrs Harnett-Carr about her family’s situation, which was released to homerooms and posted on Facebook. As well as this, we had students write messages of hope on cut-out hearts and displayed them in the school entrance, and hosted a free-entry concert with the theme of peace and love. 

• Where exactly do you hope the money will go?

We’re donating the proceeds to Caritas Ukraine, with the intention that several children’s lives who have been affected by the Russo-Ukraine War will be given food, water, clothing, shelter, medical resources, and most importantly, will be reconnected with their parents and siblings. 

• How generous has your community been during your fundraising efforts?

Our community has been unbelievably generous. We are a very charitable school, but this was a big ask, and due to the nature of the war, I believed it was best to fundraise sooner rather than later. This was a massive team effort and was only possible to achieve with heaps of people volunteering their time, especially Makayla Daley (student), and Annette Poulson and Mikayla Giuffrida (teachers), and the level of participation in awareness raising was incredibly high. As for donations, we had nearly every student donate through activities, as well as students, families, and staff donating money out of the kindness of their hearts, simply because they understand how important this cause is. Our wonderful P&F family donated $500 themselves!

• What was your fundraising goal? and how much have you raised?

Our fundraising goal was $2000, which was quite a high goal, one we weren’t expecting to meet fully. But through the amazing generosity of our students, and the combined effort of staff and volunteers, we were able to raise $2906.60, almost a grand over our goal!