Photo credit: Richard Wainwright

This year our Project Compassion theme is: A Just Future. Through your generous support of Caritas Australia you are empowering young people to build a just future for themselves, their families and their communities. A Just Future starts with You.

For more than 50 years, Caritas Australia has worked together with our neighbours in Australia and around the world to combat poverty, promote justice and uphold human dignity. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright

JANAKI BAYAN DITOSA FEATURED COUNTRY WHERE WE WORK RATTANAK PSYCHE MAE NEPAL RATTANAK CAMBODIA PSYCHE MAE PHILIPPINES BAYAN JORDAN DITOSA MOZAMBIQUE EVANGELINE AUSTRALIA FEATURED COUNTRY WHERE WE WORK

Photo credit: Richard Wainwright

CHINA FEATURED COUNTRY WHERE WE WORK

Janaki, a young businesswoman from Nepal, has turned her life around. Growing up in extreme poverty and forced into a marriage at the age of twelve, she faced many challenges. Her husband died just two years into their marriage. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright Janaki and her parents in the front room of their house that also operates as a convenience store.

In 2015, Janaki joined a youth club formed by Caritas Australia’s partners, Caritas Nepal and the Ekata Foundation Surkhet, learning how to sew. She took a loan from the youth club to purchase her first sewing machine. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright Janaki using her sewing machine to make clothes and earn a living.

A Just Future starts with Empowerment. Two years on, Janaki has 11 sewing machines and is running her own business teaching others. She is a role model in her community. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright Janaki is now a Youth Club leader. A Just Future starts with Empowerment.

Photo credit: Richard Wainwright

FEATURED COUNTRY WHERE WE WORK

The Caritas Australia supported Deaf Development program (DDP) was a lifeline for Rattanak, helping him to participate in his community. Rattanak contracted polio as a child and also became deaf. DDP provides sign language, job training and interpreting services to people who are deaf. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright Rattanack standing in his barber shop.

Rattanak graduated from the education program in 2010, returning the following year to train as a barber. DDP then helped him to set up his shop in his parent’s house in his village. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright Rattanak working in his barber shop.

A Just Future starts with Community. Rattanak has emerged from his isolated world at home. He is now running a successful business and supporting his family. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright Rattanak and his wife, Phirum. A Just Future starts with Community.

Photo credit: Richard Wainwright

TURKEY FEATURED COUNTRY WHERE WE WORK SAUDI ARABIA

Bayan is 12 years old living with her family in Jordan Bayan is 12 years old living with her family in Jordan. She grew up in Syria’s capital, Damascus before the conflict in Syria forced her family to flee. As a quiet, young refugee, she struggled to overcome the trauma she experienced and faced the prospect of missing out on an education. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright Bayan waiting outside her home for the Caritas school bus.

Here she receives support and tutoring. Fortunately Bayan has been able to attend a Caritas supported Education Program in Jordan. Here she receives support and tutoring. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright Bayan attends classes on Saturdays run by the Caritas Education Program.

A Just Future starts with a Safe Place to Learn. Now, Bayan is an academic high-achiever and is flourishing in the stable environment school life brings. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright A Just Future starts with a Safe Place to Learn.

Photo credit: Sascha Costigan

FEATURED COUNTRY WHERE WE WORK

Evangeline was first featured in Project Compassion 2016, and has risen to the role of Senior Artsworker. Evangeline’s small remote community in the Northern Territory face a range of challenges stemming from the violent experience of colonisation, including few jobs, crowded housing and lack of access to services. Photo credit: Sascha Costigan

Djilpin Arts provided Evangeline with an opportunity. The non-profit Aboriginal organisation, Djilpin Arts is supported by Caritas Australia and is a key employer in this community. At the Centre, young people come together with Elders to learn about their culture through art, storytelling, dance and song. Djilpin Arts provided Evangeline with an opportunity. Photo credit: Sascha Costigan Evangeline – Senior Artsworker for Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation.

A Just Future starts with Culture. Evangeline and the team of Artsworkers are doing really important work promoting their cultural knowledge and providing excellence in Indigenous tourism. Photo credit: Sascha Costigan A Just Future starts with Culture.

Photo credit: Ivy Khoury

FEATURED COUNTRY WHERE WE WORK

Ditosa lives in Mozambique Ditosa lives in Mozambique. She was first featured in Project Compassion 2013 when she was just 12 years old and had lost both her parents to AIDS-related illnesses. Caritas Australia helped Ditosa, her aunt and her grandmother build a new home and assisted with transport, school materials and fees, to help Ditosa to stay at school. Photo credit: Erin Johnson Ditosa in her classroom in 2013 when she was first featured in Project Compassion.

Ditosa has now graduated from school and hopes to go to university to become a police officer. She loved school and is ambitious for the future. Photo credit: Ivy Khoury

A Just Future starts with Education. Photo credit: Ivy Khoury Ditosa with Mama Cacilda, Director of Caritas Regional Chokwe A Just Future starts with Education.

Photo credit: Nicole Clements

FEATURED COUNTRY WHERE WE WORK INDONESIA

Psyche Mae is now a young social worker, achieving her dream of helping others struggling to leave poverty behind them – with plans to study a Master’s degree. When Psyche Mae featured in Project Compassion 2008, she was living in a squatter settlement, on the edge of a giant rubbish dump outside Manila, in the Philippines. Photo credit: Sean Sprague In 2008, Psyche Mae helping her father in the squatter settlement.

Participating in a Caritas Australia supported urban renewal program, Psyche Mae’s family have been able to lift themselves out of poverty. Photo credit: Sean Sprague Psyche Mae’s mother learnt how to make bags to sell to support her family.

Ten years later, Psyche Mae continues to give back to her community. Photo credit: Nicole Clements Psyche Mae visited Australia in 2016 as the keynote speaker of Caritas Australia’s Women for the World event. A Just Future starts with Opportunity.

THANK YOU! Photo credits Janaki, Nepal: Rattanak, Cambodia: Bayan, Jordan – Richard Wainwright. Evangeline, Australia – Sascha Costigan. Ditosa, Mozambique – Erin Johnson and Ivy Khoury. Psyche Mae, Philippines – Nicole Clements and Sean Sprague