Solidarity Lunch Day

CURRICULUM LEVEL AND LEARNING AREA

CARITAS.ORG.AU/AFRICA

1

23 million people are currently on the brink

of famine in South Sudan and other areas of

East Africa. Caritas Australia and their

partners are delivering life-saving food and

water to countries most in need including

South Sudan, Kenya and Malawi.

We invite your school community to join with us

in raising awareness and vital funds for East

Africa, through a Solidarity Lunch Day where

students and teachers share a simple meal

of corn/maize flatbread for lunch, foregoing

other treats and snacks. This may be for the

entire school day, or during the lunch period

only. The Solidarity Lunch could be preceded or

followed by the East Africa Food Crisis Prayer

Service and the Prayer template activity (page

4). Invite students to donate $3 (or the

equivalent amount that would be spent on

lunch) on the day. Money that is collected for

the emergency can be donated at

www.caritas.org.au/africa

For Further learning, download the Primary or

Secondary Classroom resources.

Why are we doing this?

As Christians, we are invited to follow the

footsteps of Jesus. Matthew 25:35ff “When I

was hungry you gave me food, when I was

thirsty you gave me to drink...” We learn how

Jesus wants us to care for the welfare of others,

and to share what we have.

Eating less or more simply, and being prayerful

for a time can help us focus on our brothers and

sisters in East Africa and the challenges they

are facing. We invite you to take time to learn,

pray and act in solidarity for the millions of

people facing famine and food crisis. During the

day, think about how we enjoy a variety of

nutritional food everyday, whilst our brothers

and sisters face food shortage. Encourage

students to question the injustice that has led to

this unfair distribution of the world’s food

resources. Take time to consider how we are all

connected.

We must also think about how we can take

action by sharing what we have. Donating to the

emergency work of Caritas Australia is one way

to share what we have.

Please ensure parents and students understand

the reasons for and the duration of the

Solidarity Lunch. Encourage students to drink

plenty of water throughout the day.

Prayer and reflection is an important component

if they are to gain from this experience

spiritually. You can use the Africa Emergency

Appeal Prayer PowerPoint (Primary and

Secondary) available online.

Maize Flat Bread has been suggested as lunch,

as maize flour is a food item being distributed

by Caritas Australia’s partners in South Sudan

and other affected countries. Maize or corn flat

bread can be purchased from most

supermarkets.

East Africa Food Crisis Appeal

Use independently or along with the East Africa Food Crisis Prayer Service

Solidarity Lunch Day

AFRICA EMERGENCY APPEAL 2017

CARITAS.ORG.AU/AFRICA

On the Day

Complete the Prayer Template

activity (page 4). Students

can write their prayer in the

sack outline that represents

food aid (flour, beans, maize)

that is being delivered by

Caritas partners.

People receiving food aid in South Sudan.

The prayer can then be taken to the Prayer

Service and placed in the sacred space.

At the end of the day, students can collect a

prayer to take home and place somewhere they

will see it daily (for example, on the fridge).

They can be encouraged to pray and raise

awareness with their family.

Pray the ‘Our Father’ for the grace on the day

for the Solidarity Lunch. Pause after ‘Give us

our Daily Bread’.

Collect donations at a suitable time during the

day. Donations can be made at

www.caritas.org.au/africa

Questions for discussion during the

Solidarity Lunch Day:

1. What are we eating? How was it

produced? Consider the idea that food is

“fruit of the earth and work of human

hands.”

2. Think of all the steps and people involved,

from the farm to the shop, so that the food

could reach you.

3. How does food connect us to others and

creation?

4. How do you feel when you are hungry?

5. How does being hungry impact you at

school, in the playground?

6. How would you feel if you had to eat the

same thing every day?

7. What questions do you have about the

crisis in East Africa?

Solidarity Lunch Day

AFRICA EMERGENCY APPEAL 2017

CARITAS.ORG.AU/AFRICA

Information for Parents/Long Newsletter

Notice

20 million people are currently on the brink

of famine in South Sudan and other areas of

East Africa. Caritas Australia and their

partners are delivering life-saving food and

water to countries most in need including

South Sudan, Kenya and Malawi.

We are raising awareness and vital funds for

East Africa, through a Solidarity Lunch Day

where students and teachers share a simple

meal of corn/maize flatbread for lunch,

foregoing other treats and snacks (indicate

length of time: throughout the entire school

day/during the lunch period only). We are

sharing Maize Flat Bread as maize flour is a

food item being distributed by Caritas Australia

in South Sudan and other affected countries.

The Solidarity Lunch will be preceded/ followed

by the East Africa Food Crisis Prayer Service

and the Prayer template (page 4) activity.

Students will also be learning about famine and

food crisis in East Africa.

We ask for a $3 donation per student (or the

equivalent amount that would be spent on

lunch). Donations will go to Caritas Australia’s

Africa Emergency Appeal www.caritas.org.au/

africa

Short Newsletter Notice

20 million people are currently on the brink

of famine in South Sudan and other areas of

East Africa. We are raising awareness and

vital funds for East Africa, through a Solidarity

Lunch Day where students and teachers share

a simple meal of corn/maize flatbread for lunch,

foregoing other treats and snacks (indicate

length of time: throughout the entire school

day/during the lunch period only), followed/

preceded by Mass and classroom activities.

We ask for a $3 donation per student (or the

equivalent amount that would be spent on

lunch). Donations will go to Caritas Australia’s

Africa Emergency Appeal www.caritas.org.au/

africa

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