Trinity Year 12 Social Justice Retreat

Trinity Year 12 Social Justice Retreat was held on Thursday the 4th of June till Friday the 5th of June.

Our focus was on 'walking in solidarity with others'. We began by setting up temporary shelters on Bodkin yard with a focus on awareness of the issues faced by many millions around the world who are impacted by not having secure accomodation.

We were then joined by Presentation Sister's Noreen and Veronica as members of Talitha Kum. Talitha Kum is a global network of women against Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery. The sisters described how Talitha Kum is preventing, advocating, supporting and reintegrating victims of Human Trafficking and modern day slavery in Aotearoa and around the world. (Global injustice)

The year 12s were then joined by David McKenzie from the Dunedin Night Shelter to describe the issues that local men and women face which can lead to needing emergency accommodation and support through Dunedin Night Shelter. David shared with us his experiences of the injustice faced by people everybday in Dunedin. ( Community injustice)

The Year 12s were also engaged in a 'tech famine' to enable genuine connection and being present to each other to develop more deeper relationships within their year group and their faith. It is amazing how much young people rediscover their childhood when surrounded by their peers without devices!

We were also only eating a cup of rice for supper and breakfast. Again, not a major sacrifice, but rather a way of highlighting the food insecurity faced by MILLIONS of people everyday.

Thursday ended with a candlelight liturgy to bless our food and also to pray and offer silence in solidarity for all of the those in need, especially our brothers and sisters who are impacted by human trafficking, modern day slavery and insecure and unsafe housing and living conditions.

We then headed to our make shift shelters to sleep on Bodkin Yard. It was quite incredible that on this one night the temperature was between 14 and 17 degrees! Thankyou Holy Spirit and Eddie Rice!

Friday started after some students had walked through the gates to start learning and were startled to find 80 year 12s fast asleep on the ground! We got up at 730am (woken by Mr Sutherlands music choice!) and packed up our emergency shelters. We then had a korero about access to education and the lengths many young people need to travel on foot just to get to school. We all realised how privileged we are to have cars, busses and safe walking streets. The year 12s then walked 5km before the start of our day, including up Rattray Street!

We then gathered to pray and share rice in solidarity with those who live this reality everyday.

Our first session today was led by Sarah and Maleah from Youthline. Sarah and Maleah shared with our young people the services Youthline offer for 16 to 24 year olds and some of the challenges that are stopping young people being able to be the best versions of themselves. We then broke into groups looking at ways we can enhance our mental health and care for others who are struggling (personal justice).

The tiredness was kicking in as we headed into Mr Sutherlands session on 'Servant leadership and Community'. Mr Sutherland presented all of us with the challenge/wero to all be up-standers for all. He challenged us to continue to strive to reach our obvious potential, not as individuals but as a community.

Our time on retreat was coming to an end and we gathered in the Chapel to finish with a liturgy with Matua Moananu. A beautiful way to finish and you could have heard a pin drop as we were all reflecting on all we had experienced over the last 2 days.

Many thanks to all the staff who gave up their time to stay with us. Miss McKenzie, Miss Lloyd, Matua Moananu, Mr Duckett and Mr Sutherland.