APLEC 10Educating for Life

ONE HEART. ONE COMMITMENT. ONE LIFE.

APLEC DAY 3

The third and final day of APLEC for 2019 is here and how quickly it has come by! The day began with a very special morning prayer facilitated by the Papua New Guinean delegates. Every solemn moment continued to begin with “Let us remember that we are in the Holy presence of God”, a saying that would stop you in your tracks and have your whole attention to God and prayer.

The first keynote speaker of the day was Br Peter Bray, the Vice Chancellor at Bethlehem University in Palestine. The first thing Br Peter called us to do, was stand up and repeat the words as a group ‘I am here. Here I am. Right now. Open’. Working at the University for many years now, Br Peter told stories that broke the heart of the audience. He revealed the unpredictability of the city – specifically telling the story of the

fact that when a student gets on a bus to travel to a class at the university, they have no idea if they will arrive on time, if they will be interrogated or held at gunpoint on the way? There are three things that the University aims to provide for the students; Safety, caring for every single person on campus and creating a predictable environment. Ensuring that classes are on time and consistent, delegating assignments and assisting students with careers. Br Peter said that he tries to ‘create an atmosphere to enable them to develop a peaceful mind, a peaceful heart to make them peaceful people’. He showed a number of videos of interviews with graduates of the University, all of which found their experiences at the University life changed and exceptional. It was hard to not

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be wrenched with sympathy and the desire to do something to help. Br Peter Bray frequently gets asked the question of ‘why do you stay there, amidst so much terror and challenge, why do you stay?’ To which he answers, ‘we must not do the work we want to do, we must do God’s work’. It is his awareness that he is involved with something so much bigger than himself, that makes him stay.

The second keynote speaker featured yesterday at our Lasallian Youth Gathering. yourtown CEO, Tracy Adams, graced the stage with an insight into a different kind of poverty in young people in Australia that is homelessness and mental health. Tracy revealed that 100,000 children in Australia are not going to school – their priority is staying alive rather than education, as they feel safer living on the streets than at home. Tracy reminded us of De La Salle’s famous words, words that she lives by today to run yourtown, ‘Example makes a greater impression on the mind and heart than words.’

Tracy showed the journey of many families that are affected by the work of yourtown. San Miguel is a service for parents younger than 25 with children or expecting a child, to provide them with shelter and guidance as they transition into the responsibilities of parenthood. There are many inspiring success stories associated with the service, Tracy showed

a video of young mothers aged 16 and a father at the age of 15 and how tough it is to simply be a teenager, but to be a parent can make simple things a lot harder.

Br Bill Firman was the final keynote speaker for APLEC 2019. Br Bill works in South Sudan, a country racked with violence and where a third of the population is displaced. He raises a heavy but necessary question, ‘Where there has been so much death, how do we educate for life?’ He says that South Sudan is the land of ‘the last, the least and the lost.’ Hearing this makes the audience freeze and hearts drop. The De La Salle Brothers are in South Sudan to bring about much-needed and necessary change. Whether it be too few or many people, any change is better than none. Br Bill proclaims that African people are very quick learners, children have the ability to learn 3-4 languages, which as an exceptional level of intelligence. A terrifying statistic was revealed – one out of every nine children die before they turn five in South Sudan. More than half of the children in South Sudan never go to school, and only 12% of teachers are women; 92% of the female population are not literate. A quote that many aren’t able to forget is that ‘Contagious joy has been replaced by determined commitment’. Br Bill is also asked

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by many, ‘Why do you stay?’. His doesn’t hesitate to answer, ‘A ship in the harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are for?’ If the missionaries leave South Sudan, the people lose hope.

Following the inspirational and heart-wrenching presentation from Br Bill, workshops and a Q and A with Br Ricky Laguda finalised APLEC.

Brother Ricky was born in the Philippines and grew up by the side of the Brothers. It was from a very young age that the Brothers had an effect on him. He had many positive experiences – the values the Brothers lived by and established within his school was something that held a piece of his heart, all the way up until he became a Brother. His first attraction to the religious life was at the age of six, with a very happy interaction with Br Felix, a Brother in his primary school would spend time with students on their birthdays and give them a card from St Peter. It was Br Felix’s personal effort for each of their students that Br Ricky was called to become a brother himself. Prior to becoming a Brother, Ricky completed a degree in Philosophy.

For the last 25 years of being a Brother, Ricky has travelled around the world and is currently in the position of General Councillor in charge of the South East Asia Region. In a recent interview this weekend at APLEC, Br Ricky explained his role as a General Councillor and his need to travel to Rome for three months of the year and is travelling around South East Asia for the rest of the year. He has been a teacher in many different countries including Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. A year ago, Br Ricky visited one of the schools he was one a teacher at over two decades ago and met the Assistant Principal who was once his student. Seeing his student go on to become an Assistant Principal is something Br Ricky finds to be a success and a reason to love being a Brother. He expressed that moments like these, of knowing his students have gone on to succeed and be happy in life, are what makes him continue to be a Brother and love it.

His role in APLEC begins with assisting those visiting from South East Asia. His main role is to accompany the Visitors but also to make sure there is collaboration between schools and those

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in their District. When asked what APLEC means for the Tercentenary year, Br Ricky “our founder continues to be an inspiration in making sure that education is relevant and transforms the lives of those under our care”. Br Ricky hopes that when delegates return from APLEC, they have their own personal insights and continue to be inspired and use that to form relationships within the school and create a healthier Lasallian family. He hopes that delegates open their mind to be innovative, not only in the classroom but in their entire school.

One of the final aspects of APLEC was a Q and A with Br Ricky that inspired many members of the audience. Br David Hawke then announced the launch of the Together for Mission Program, a course for educators to enhance their formation in their schools that will take place over four semesters. Individually and together, participants will have a basis on which critically to reflect on their present work with young people, affirming what continues to be valuable and decided on practical means of implementing desirable change. Expressions of Interest are welcomed, and applications close on Friday the 31st of May. There is a strict limit to only 24 participants, so securing your spot is a must! To send an expression of interest, please provide your name, your role and experience, why you and your workplace would benefit from the course, past Lasallian experience and supporting comments from your Principal or CEO to Br John Cantwell ( johncantwell@delasalle.org.au).