One of the most treasured parts of Glasshouse Christian College’s history is our long-standing partnership with Compassion Australia. Back in 2000, we sponsored our very first child, Robert Mugisha, a 15-year-old from Uganda.
Robert lived with his mother, and through the support of our College community, he was able to start a small poultry project to help his family. His dream was to become an accountant and work in a bank in Uganda. We received a simple photo and a heartfelt letter from Robert, and that small beginning planted a seed of generosity that has continued to grow throughout the life of our College.
In 2025, Glasshouse Christian College sponsors these children through Compassion Australia:
Prep – Joaquin
Year 1 – Querbien
Year 2 – Fate
Year 3 – Arheanna
Year 4 – Migz
Year 5 – Rhyver
Year 6 – Anasandra
Year 7 – Jerry
Year 8 – Prince
Year 9 – Jeanine
Year 10 – Christina
Next week is Compassion Week, which is not simply about compassion in a general sense. It’s about action. It’s about standing in the gap for children and others who, through no fault of their own, face poverty and limited opportunity. It’s about reminding ourselves — and teaching our children — that we are blessed, and that part of living as followers of Christ is using those blessings to bless others.
We live in a world where it’s easy to become focused on what we don’t have. Costs are rising, pressures grow, and many families feel the pinch. And yet, in the global picture, we are among the wealthiest people on earth. The important lesson we want to share with our students is that generosity isn’t about how much we have—it’s about the posture of our hearts. Whether it’s a few dollars from pocket money or the act of writing a letter to a child who lives half a world away, these small actions can have a lasting impact both for those we help and for our own children as they learn to live with open hearts.
This is why I encourage parents to consider creating a “family culture of giving.” What might it look like for our children to experience giving, not simply by seeing parents donate, but by actively taking part? Could they choose to set aside part of their pocket money? Could they write letters to a sponsored child, sharing a little of their own lives and hearing about a very different world? Is it collecting items for a Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Child shoebox later on in the year? These small acts help form habits of thankfulness and generosity that will stay with them long after they leave school.
During Compassion Week, we have several opportunities for students to participate in practical ways:
- In Primary, students will enjoy Pizza and Popper Day.
- In Secondary, there will be a Sausage Sizzle.
- Secondary will also hold a Free Dress Day (possibly a pyjama day!) where donations of any amount are welcome — while gold coins are always appreciated, larger donations are also encouraged for those who are able.
As always, it’s important to remind our families that at Glasshouse Christian College, we never fundraise for ourselves. One hundred per cent of funds raised during Compassion Week go to help people in need, either through Compassion or other organisations serving both in Australia and overseas. Over the years, our students and families have generously supported organisations like Destiny Rescue, Samaritan’s Purse, the Bushfire Appeal, and Farm Angels, plus many more. We are so thankful for a community that models this kind of generous, other-focused living.
Of course, we are also blessed to have a wonderful P and F Committee who do fundraise to support the College and our students directly. We are incredibly grateful for their work. Their efforts allow us to enrich the student experience in ways that might otherwise not be possible. But for our College-wide fundraising efforts like Compassion Week, our focus remains on giving to others in greater need.
Creating a culture of giving in your family isn’t about the amount — it’s about having a generous heart. The Bible gives us a perfect example in Mark 12:43-44. As Jesus watched many people giving, it was the poor widow who quietly placed two small copper coins — all she had — into the offering that moved Him. Our children need to understand that even if their donations seem small compared to those of adults or businesses, it is their sacrificial giving from the heart that truly matters.
Thank you in advance for your support, not just financially, but in helping to shape the hearts of our students. My prayer is that, through opportunities like Compassion Week, our children grow up not only aware of the needs in the world but also eager to respond in kindness, generosity, and love.
Mike Curtis, Principal