Far from the glitter of the Gold Coast lie the remote islands of Kiribati, where straw mats are beds and you drink from the water you wash in – it is here that four HSC students chose to spend their Schoolies Week.
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In December, former St Mary’s College students Pat Rankmore, Jess Carlow, Sarah Longworth, Emily Osmond and Sophie Sainsbury left the shores of Australia to embark on an eight-day experience that would drastically alter their perspective.
The former students were accompanied by St Mary’s teachers Bernie Arnall and Millie Woolaston, and six students and two teachers from McCarthy Catholic College.
The trip to Kiribati was part of Catholic Mission Australia’s Immersion Program, designed to show students how different life can be.
Kiribati is an independent republic located in the central Pacific Ocean, more than 2000km northeast of Fiji. It is made up of 33 coral islands divided among the Gilbert Islands, the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands.
The republic is considered to be one of the least developed and poorest nations in the Pacific Island region. English is widely spoken in Kiribati, however, there is a native tongue.
Kiribati participant Emily Osmond shared her experience with St Mary’s students at a school assembly on Tuesday.
“I think I can speak on behalf of everyone that this was the most amazing thing that we have ever done,” she said.
“On our way to Maneaba, we were exposed to the living conditions of the locals. They lived in shacks made of anything they could find and there was rubbish everywhere.
“There were cats and dogs roaming around and pigs tied to trees.”
The school group spent a lot of time with the Sacred Heart youth group who sang and danced in traditional dress for the visitors who in turn taught them the Macarena and Nutbush.
“We were amazed at their love of their culture and each other,” Emily said.
One of Emily’s favourite experiences was a day trip to North Tarawa where they could swim in clean water after enduring days of hot and humid weather “like you could never imagine”.
The school group was also very proactive in Kiribati, planting mangroves for two days to prevent erosion and joining a local group in promoting awareness of climate change while the United Nations Climate Change summit took place in Paris.
The highlight of the trip for Emily was their farewell party where they exchanged gifts with the youth group and danced and sang late into the night.
“We did not want to leave because we were having so much fun,” she said.
“If we learnt anything from the Sacred Heart youth, it was that you did not judge anyone.”
Now back in Australia and preparing to leave Gunnedah for university, Emily has been reflecting on the difference between the world of Kiribati and her own world.
“The trip was amazing and I would encourage anyone who has thought about it to do it. It is so rewarding and it makes you appreciate how lucky we are in Australia,” she said.
“Our group became very close and we all still have very close relationships with each other.
“Through this immersion, we were able to gain a new perspective of life, form lifelong friendships and gain a new understanding of ourselves and what is important.”
Teacher Bernie Arnall said it was good to see the students in another context and experience the Kiribati’s people’s “sense of belonging”.
Fellow teacher Millie Woolaston said it was a worthwhile and memorable experience.
“Their appreciation for life regardless of the situation that they’re in and the challenges that they face every day,” she said.
There are plans to make a trip to Kiribati an annual event.
