Canberran Matt Napier – who kicked a soccer ball across Africa last year to raise awareness about, and funds for, those living in poverty – launched Lumen Christi’s Project Compassion appeal on Friday.
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Project Compassion runs over Lent, the six weeks leading up to Easter, starting on March 1. Last year Project Compassion raised $11.1 million for the world's poor, including those on the Far South Coast.
Mr Napier, walked the 2296km across southern Africa, living on $2 a day while giving away 200 soccer balls to children and raising $62,000 for Caritas Australia (the charity that runs Project Compassion), Oxfam Australia, Care and the Fred Hollows Foundation.
Lumen Christi Catholic College students were treated to a presentation by Mr Napier who inspired the students to give back to those in need.
“It’s inspiring to learn about new and different ways of putting yourself out there and making a difference,” Year 12 college captain Rain Flavell said.
“It makes you think about other people, not just yourself, about those in our community and beyond who do it much harder than yourself,” 17-year-old Amber Buckmaster said.
“Seeing the amount of effort he goes to for people he doesn’t know is amazing.”
During his presentation Mr Napier recounted his interactions with a lady he met in Mozambique.
“She had four children, one of whom had passed away. The second had HIV-AIDS. The third had a mental illness and couldn't stay with them in their tin shed and had to sleep next door under a tarpaulin which often flooded whenever it rained.
"The fourth child was the victim of a hit and run and was paralysed from the waist down.
"Meeting people like that really puts your own life in perspective. She was definitely struggling. She had some support from the Mozambique government which was equivalent to Australian $8 a month and that's only when the government could afford it.
"So it was really tough to see people living like that."
Mr Napier and his wife Wendy donate 50 per cent of their income to charity and self fund their journeys which include another visit to Africa in June walking across the Namib Desert and what he plans to be the world’s biggest triathlon where he will travel from Sweden to South Africa.
To donate to Project Compassion or for fundraising ideas visit www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or phone 1800 024 413.