“It is difficult to say what is impossible,
for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today
and the reality of tomorrow.”
(Robert H. Goddard, pioneering rocket scientist)
Don’t you feel inspired by people who in the midst of terrible emotional or physical pain or seemingly insurmountable obstacles or hardship, achieve positive change through their own actions? Rather than wallow in self pity, which would be perfectly understandable in the circumstances, they manage to pull themselves out of their despair and act to make changes, not only to themselves but for others around them and in some cases can effect change on a global scale. It seems as though some people have this amazing capacity to rise above it all and harness all of their energy to bring about good in the face of adversity and unbelievable sadness.
Inspirational people like internationally renowned psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl who survived years in a concentration camp during the Holocaust, wrote a book, ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’, which chronicles his experiences in Auschwitz and how different individuals coped in such traumatic circumstances. As you might imagine, some never got over the shock of the experience, others became apathetic and conditioned to the appalling conditions and the constant fear of death, others become bitter and disillusioned but there were others, only a few, who were able to rise above the depersonalisation and horror, by comforting other inmates, giving away their last piece of bread that they had to another inmate. Frankl writes that while all of our possessions can be taken from us, the last one human freedom that can’t be taken from us is our attitude to what happens to us. He famously wrote in this surprisingly uplifting book:
“When we can no longer change a situation,
we are challenged to change ourselves.”
Recently I had the opportunity to listen to an inspirational speaker, Stephen Lewis a former Canadian Leader of the Opposition, who amongst other things, became a Humanitarian Ambassador for the United Nations, and has been a very vocal advocate for the eradication of HIV Aids, which he claims could happen if more developed countries put more medicine, and more time and effort into achieving this goal. He has seen some of the
most tragic consequences of civil war in Rwanda and appalling outcomes of AIDs in Africa. He is a passionate speaker who speaks of first-hand experience of the dreadful consequences of neglecting this epidemic in Africa.
As Lewis argues, the world surely has enough resources and the wherewithal to bring about positive change in the life of people in less developed countries, as this 1998 report from the United Nations on Human Development demonstrates:
for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today
and the reality of tomorrow.”
(Robert H. Goddard, pioneering rocket scientist)
Don’t you feel inspired by people who in the midst of terrible emotional or physical pain or seemingly insurmountable obstacles or hardship, achieve positive change through their own actions? Rather than wallow in self pity, which would be perfectly understandable in the circumstances, they manage to pull themselves out of their despair and act to make changes, not only to themselves but for others around them and in some cases can effect change on a global scale. It seems as though some people have this amazing capacity to rise above it all and harness all of their energy to bring about good in the face of adversity and unbelievable sadness.
Inspirational people like internationally renowned psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl who survived years in a concentration camp during the Holocaust, wrote a book, ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’, which chronicles his experiences in Auschwitz and how different individuals coped in such traumatic circumstances. As you might imagine, some never got over the shock of the experience, others became apathetic and conditioned to the appalling conditions and the constant fear of death, others become bitter and disillusioned but there were others, only a few, who were able to rise above the depersonalisation and horror, by comforting other inmates, giving away their last piece of bread that they had to another inmate. Frankl writes that while all of our possessions can be taken from us, the last one human freedom that can’t be taken from us is our attitude to what happens to us. He famously wrote in this surprisingly uplifting book:
“When we can no longer change a situation,
we are challenged to change ourselves.”
Recently I had the opportunity to listen to an inspirational speaker, Stephen Lewis a former Canadian Leader of the Opposition, who amongst other things, became a Humanitarian Ambassador for the United Nations, and has been a very vocal advocate for the eradication of HIV Aids, which he claims could happen if more developed countries put more medicine, and more time and effort into achieving this goal. He has seen some of the
most tragic consequences of civil war in Rwanda and appalling outcomes of AIDs in Africa. He is a passionate speaker who speaks of first-hand experience of the dreadful consequences of neglecting this epidemic in Africa.As Lewis argues, the world surely has enough resources and the wherewithal to bring about positive change in the life of people in less developed countries, as this 1998 report from the United Nations on Human Development demonstrates:
“The world has more than enough resources to accelerate progress in human development for all and to eradicate the worst forms of poverty from the planet. Advancing human development is not an exorbitant undertaking. For example, it has been estimated that the total additional yearly investment required to achieve universal access to basic social services would be roughly $40 billion, 0.1% of world income, barely more than a rounding error. That covers the bill for basic education, health, nutrition, reproductive health, family planning, and safe water and sanitation for all.”
(United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report, 1998)
(United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report, 1998)
Lewis has been to many of the poorest countries; countries torn apart by internal strife, war and devastation. In spite of the hardships, Lewis commented upon the spirit of the people to rebuild their lives and their country. After two years study of children in conflict (in countries such as Rwanda, Uganda and Somalia), Lewis found that the one thing that children and parents wanted most of all, was school, because school would allow the children’s lives to return to some sense of normality, and the healing process, after all that the children had witnessed, would begin. As a result, Lewis has been able to lobby western governments to provide much needed educational resources after the conflict has ended. He has made a real difference to this world.
Some countries are not torn apart by warfare but rather by natural disasters. In January, 2010, the small island of Haiti was reduced to rubble by a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake, killing over 100,000 people. Emergency housing, mainly in the form of tents, was sent to the small island. Thousands of lives were affected, and thousands of children lost not only family and homes but also lost their schools.
On hearing the plight of the children in Haiti, one young Queensland university student, Chris Eigeland, with the help of two other young people put out a request via FaceBook to garner help from businesses and young people around the world, to raise funds to supply books and stationery for the schools and children of Haiti. Incredibly, these three young people joined forces to bring the books and stationery to the children in Haiti – a massive effort requiring military precision – to supply all schools with the much needed equipment. They personally packed the boxes and delivered them to delighted children and teachers in every school location in Haiti. What a truly inspiring story of hope for the future, where young people can effect global change through social media and a simple call to action.
As a school community our own young people are developing a strong social conscience too. Over the last year, many students have approached me and taken on projects that have raised money, or specific needs that have benefited the local community and beyond – places like the Solomon Islands, East Timor, Kenya, Sudan and Nepal. I congratulate all of the students involved in these projects for what they have achieved. For example, students have given assistance to the flood victims earlier this year, CanTeen, Give Me Five for Kids, the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, 40 Hour Famine, Breast Cancer – Pink October, to name but a few.
We can be very proud of our students and recently I received an email from Greg Bradley from World Vision, Australia telling us that because of our magnificent fund raising efforts for the 40 Hour Famine this year, that Caloundra City Private School will be receiving a World Vision, Outstanding Achievement Award, which is a fitting tribute to the students and staff involved in this project.
The School is now offering a Certificate II in Volunteering which will better educate our young people about the benefits of helping others and CCPS will be one of the very first schools to offer this program. This Certificate will see our Senior students volunteering in the community and making a real difference to the wider community. Thinking of others before ourselves and giving back to people less fortunate than ourselves is one way that society can effect positive change for the better. Yes, we can all take action and do this if we set our minds and hearts to this goal.
George Bernard Shaw wrote many years ago:
“Some people see things as they are and ask why not.
Others dream things that never were and ask why not.”
Yes, we really can turn the dream of hope for the future into a reality today.
Karon Graham
“Some people see things as they are and ask why not.
Others dream things that never were and ask why not.”
Yes, we really can turn the dream of hope for the future into a reality today.
Karon Graham
Principal
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