Three high schools in the Manly area are using the Stage Four Geography Case Study from Manly-Manado’s Community Partnership as part of their Geography curriculum this term.  The Case Study, which includes a series of lessons and activities, is being used by Year 8 students from St Pauls College, Mackellar Girls Campus and Northern Beaches Secondary College - Balgolwah Boys Campus.

One of the guiding beliefs of Manly-Manado is that poverty can be overcome through education, reflection and action.  The call to social action extends especially to our youth – to students in our secondary school classrooms.  A seed, which can bear immeasurable fruit, can be planted in a child’s mind, through a powerful connection and real example of poverty, such as Manado.  This seed can grow into a lifetime of understanding and sympathy of global inequalities and the realisation that responsibility needs to be taken for our fellow citizens and neighbours.

Jane Goddard, geography teacher Mackellar Girls Campus, said “The case study helps students studying Geography explore the topic of global inequalities in a relevant and tangible way. It provides students with interactive activities, some of which are web-based, that help them engage with the global issue of poverty and gain an understanding about ways in which communities and organisations can help empower and assist other communities who are trapped in poverty.”

The case study inspired the girls at Mackellar to speak to the whole school assembly, some 1000 girls, about what they had learned. They shared how they had been touched by the story of Anneke, who lives on the rubbish tip in Manado, and how they had been inspired and motivated to take action and help people out of poverty.  Later in the day the girls ran a cake stall with cakes, biscuits and crackles they had made the previous night and raised $230!

Jen Foster, Geography teacher from Balgowlah Boys Campus said: “Poverty is the most urgent social issue our world faces.  By using the Manly-Manado campaign at Bally we can inspire and empower the boys to participate in and initiate community events in their local area, and to show the impact of this action on individual lives within the Manado community. It's very exciting to be a part of such a powerful social justice programme.”

Gabie Stojonovski, geography teacher from St Pauls College, said: “We’re excited about having the opportunity to apply the geography knowledge the students have been learning into a relevant current case study.”

The 29 page resource for teachers and students is designed to encourage and develop within students the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to take their place as informed and engaged global citizens.  Worksheets look at issues such as: What is Poverty ? Global Inequalities; Micro Finance and Micro Enterprise Development; Millenium Development Goals as well as facts about Manado and Indonesia.