HOLY SPIRIT PRIMARY SCHOOL, THORNBURY EAST challenged students to think about the plight of refugees who come to Australia with great hopes of a new life, only to find themselves imprisoned in detention centres.
Below are a selection of student letters responding to the situation.
SAVE THE REFUGEES
I believe it is unfair that refugees risk their life to come to our shores and are turned away or whacked into a detention centre for no real reason. These people are often living in fear and in danger too. Show a little empathy and respect. They are normal people like us. Wake up Australia! We are the sixth biggest country in the world and only have 19 million people living here.
From just one of the many people disgusted with the way this has been handled.
Jackson, Year 6, Social Justice Leader
REFUGEES
Refugees come to our country because their own country is not peaceful. Some people do not like refugees because they look different to us. So they send them back to their own country even if they are too frightened to live there any more. I feel sad that my country is treating the refugees badly.
Molly, Year 2, Social Justice Leader
REFUGEES
When refugees come to this country they expect to be let in. Some of them get in, however, others are turned away and sent back to their own countries for almost certain death. Asylum seekers are sometimes turned away but sometimes they are put in detention centres. If the government lets them out, they have a time limit and when that limit is up they are usually sent back to their own countries. Some people are afraid of these people because they look different and most of the time they speak a different language. In 30 years time people will look back and remember what a terrible time this was for refugees and asylum seekers. People will ask 'what did you do to help?' Some of us will be able to answer 'we tried, we helped.' But some of us on the other hand will look to our feet and answer - NOTHING.
Meg, Year 6, Social Justice Leader
REFUGEES
This is not fair. We should let them stay forever like us.
Just because they look different and talk different they should be allowed to stay. The refugees aren't different to us. Please let them stay like us forever. I am not happy.
Isabella Year 2, Social Justice Leader
REFUGEES
I am so shocked and disgusted that our government are putting a limit on, sending away and locking up perfectly normal people just because they look different or speak different. Try to understand they risked their lives to try and get here and we are just sending them away. These people left their own country because they were not living in peace, they felt unsafe or were being hurt and we just send them away. Wake-up they are no different from you and me.
SO HELP THEM!
Monica Year 5, Social Justice Leader
REFUGEES
We are two young boys from Holy Spirit Primary School and we think what the government is doing to the refugees is wrong. We are disappointed with our government's decisions, as everyone deserves to live in peace and have a good life. We were astounded to learn that refugees are being kept in detention centres. The government needs to change their actions. It does not matter that the refugees talk different, look different and sometimes are different.
Andrew and Alexander, Year 5, Social Justice Leaders
REFUGEES
We are disgusted with the way the government treats refugees. They may be different but that gives the government no right to treat them they way they are. The government shouldn't be afraid of them just because they may come from different countries, speak a different language or have different coloured skin. All these things do not make a difference; they are still humans and should be treated with respect.
Leo and Chris, Year 3, Social Justice Leaders
REFUGEES
I am disappointed about what the Australians are doing to the Refugees. The Refugees come to Australia because there is something happening in their country. Some people are afraid of the Refugees because they look different and they have different coloured skin. I do not think it is fair that our government is locking them up in detention centres or sending them back to their troubled home.
Sarah, Year 3, Social Justice Leader