Students get Fired Up! for social justice

Students at The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Sydney Campus are actively helping those in need with the formation of a new social justice group – Fired Up! The group, founded by Law students, Claire Harris and Margaretta Doran, started this semester. It aims to assist the less fortunate by giving students the opportunity to be involved in social justice projects. “I started this group because I have a passion for social justice and have always wanted to be involved with it through Notre Dame. We have found that so many students wish to be a part of this and are truly committed to making a difference in our local and broader community,” said Ms Harris. Recently Fired Up! held an event to raise awareness for Fair Trade - a certification system which guarantees products have not used exploitive forms of labour and are sold at a fair price. Stalls were held at both Darlinghurst and Broadway Campuses where Fair Trade tea, coffee and chocolate were sold. Convener of Chaplaincy services, Anthony Gordon, said the group is off to a great start, “It has been inspiring to witness the compassion and energy of so many Notre Dame students. They are determined to take action to assist people who are less fortunate in the community. “There are some great events coming up. Fired Up! have developed a relationship with the Missionaries of Charity in Surry Hills, where our students will give their time assisting at the daily soup kitchen. They also plan to screen the Invisible Children movie (a film about child soldiers in Uganda), and some of our medical students are involved in a project aiming to give better care to pregnant women,” said Mr Gordon. If you would like to be part of Fired Up! you can contact Claire Harris (charris4@student.nd.edu.au), Margaretta Doran (mdoran@student.nd.edu.au) or the Convener of Chaplaincy Services, Anthony Gordon (agordon2@nd.edu.au). Media contact: Moira Saunders 02 8204 440