tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663680578112260744.post4722039571036569741..comments2024-03-13T08:18:08.922+10:30Comments on Catdownunder: I have promised tocatdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08189081688973141295noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663680578112260744.post-34533343112435282572012-12-15T20:24:42.844+10:302012-12-15T20:24:42.844+10:30You seem to be talking about a number of things he...You seem to be talking about a number of things here. I rattle a tin for the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal each year. I think it a good thing to do. You don't "approach" people but you can't just stand there either. We walk past cars as they halt for the lights and those who want to donate roll down their windows. Simple as that. No government is ever going to do it all and some governments believe that helping the poor is ging to make us a "nanny state". I would rather not rely on them. <br /><br />Each year, the Year 8 students at my school do fundraising for a charity of their choice. They research a number of them - and indeed, one question we ask them to look up is how much the charity spends on administration - and present to their fellow students to persuade them to choose the charity they want. Then they all vote by secret ballot and the winning charity is the one they all fundraise for. This year it was Save The Children. They learn so much from this activity. They learn how things are outside their suburb. They learn to work in teams. Those who are academic enjoy the challenge. Those who aren't have the chance to do something they like - eg, a sports match - and feel that they have achieved something(which they have!) . This year, we had a team of five boys, four of them with issues, who worked amazingly as a team. They made and sold pan cakes and ran a disco. I saw a boy who has been alone all year by choice make suggestions, smile and laugh for the first time. Another who never speaks if he can avoid it offered to negotiate with teachers. One who won't sit still in class took on a leadership role, organising the disco, took surveys, and another, an Asperger's boy, led the pancake making.<br /><br />They have the pride of knowing they have helped others. And these aren't middle class kids with a "noblesse oblige" attitude, but some of the poorest in Australia, some of them refugees. If we relied on the government to do it all, they would have an attitude of,"Why bother? The pollies will do it."Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.com