Students from Marcellin College are making a difference by serving at the kiosk of the Matthew Talbot Hostel before and after school. Chris Shields, the College’s Director of Faith and Mission, says the experience teaches students about service, kindness, and non-judgment. And kiosk customers – that connecting with the student volunteers gives them hope.
At the counter of a little kiosk in the heart of Sydney, lives are being changed through the power of human kindness.
This kiosk, staffed by volunteers, is part of Matthew Talbot Hostel: a crisis accommodation service for men, run by St Vincent De Paul Housing.
Men experiencing hardship, many of whom sleep on the streets, are able to come to the hostel for food, clothing, toiletries and other essentials.
“Volunteers run the kiosk”, says James Newell, area manager for St Vincent De Paul Housing. “We couldn't run this service without volunteers.”
Among the volunteers are school students from Marcellin College. They serve at the kiosk early in the morning, and after school in the afternoon, as part of the school’s mission program.
Chris Shields, Director of Faith and Mission at Marcellin College, says the aim is not only to support the hostel and its clients, but also to instil in students the value of service, and to help break down judgment and stereotypes. He says the students are always impacted in positive ways.
“The lead up to this experience, from the student perspective, is often one where they're a bit scared to come down to the hostel,” Chris explains. “It might be territory they're not familiar with. They might find the engagement a little bit confronting.
“So [we aim to] make our boys understand that these guys are … like everyone else. They eat, drink and breathe, and they're very grateful for the time that we give them.
“This type of life experience [for the students] is something they never forget: that sense of assisting others, assisting those a little bit more vulnerable than themselves.”
Byron, one of the Marcellin College students serving on the day Helping Hands filmed, says the experience has helped him to realise “everyone has their own story”, while Lachlan says it’s opened his eyes to the different life experiences of people.
“To hear some of the things [that have] happened to those guys… it's just good to be able to help them out,” Lachlan says.
Student Will says that the experience has really changed him.
“When someone comes to the counter, you have a conversation with them, see how their day is going, and you really see the gratitude… it sort of changes you a bit,” he says. “When I see someone on the street, I think of them very differently than I did before I came here. It's really changed my view.
“I think the biggest lesson that I’ve learned is that it's not just about service – it’s also about the human connection you have with people.”
Kelvin, one of the kiosk customers, says it’s the human connection that lifts his spirits: “Just that someone's wanting to be here and spend their time, with compassion – [it] gives me more hope.”
* Marcellin College is the winner of the Learning for Good Schools competition.
#helpinghandstvau #makingtheworldabetterplace #documentary #impactmakers #impact #gamechangers #socialgood #tvshowforsocialgood #helpingthehomeless #volunteering #marcellincollege #vinnes #stvincentdepaul #matthewtalbothostel #learningforgood
