Project Compassion 2026 is officially underway, with Bishop Martin Ashe and the local Caritas team led by Michael McGirr launching the annual campaign at MacKillop College in Werribee on Tuesday 17 February. For more than 60 years, Project Compassion has been a tangible way for local parishes and schools to support the lives of millions of poor and marginalised people around the world.
Annually, 1,700 schools and 1,200 parishes across Australia take part, with Caritas Australia calling on the community to ‘Unite Against Poverty’ for Project Compassion this year. This year’s theme calls to mind a poignant moment in John’s Gospel (John 17:23) when, on the night before he dies, Jesus prays that they may all be one. It is a prayer for unity, that his friends will stay together and work together to embody his mission, in which the marginalised are central.
Three inspiring stories are offered in 2026 as a way to explore the theme. Each story spotlights individuals who have overcome challenges in their own lives and gone on to become beacons of hope and resilience in their communities.
Speaking at Tuesday’s launch, Praphulla Shrestha, Africa Program Coordinator for Caritas Australia, shared his experience of visiting a village in Tanzania and hearing the story of 13-year-old Sisilia, one of this year’s feature stories.
Sisilia is from a rural village in Tanzania where ‘most people don’t have basic drinking water supply,’ explained Praphulla.
‘They rely on subsistence farming, and farm production is not enough for 12 months, so you need to ration the food.’ Some months, he said, ‘they only have one meal a day.’
‘During my visit, I met Sisilia in a community meeting. She is a member of school water, sanitation, hygiene club and is helping to promote safe housing at schools and communities.
‘Sisilia is from one of the poorest families in the village and is one of four siblings. Her father passed away a long time ago and she was raised by her mother, a single mother, and lives in a small, overcrowded house with only one bed, no ventilation, and there was no toilet at that time.
‘Drinking water has to be collected from the river and canal, about 45-minutes’ walking distance, [holding the water] on the head or back … She can’t avoid it, that’s part of her life. Sisilia needs to help her mother every day after school. She’s the eldest sibling; that is her duty. She walks for 3–4 hours each day to go to school, about 7–8 kilometres away.’
Sisilia has described encountering ‘wild animals’ on her way to school. ‘In the rainy season, she needs to cross rivers, and is afraid of getting washed away in the flood,’ said Praphulla, ‘and there is every chance of harassment during travel to and from school.’
‘Despite all these, she loves to go to school to learn, read, write and speak properly and gain a necessary skill to run a good life. When I asked her, “What is your goal in life?”, she replied, “I’d like to be a pilot.“ ‘
Her answer surprised Praphulla. ‘I got a spellbound for her high hope, despite the fact that she was born in a poor family and [is] living in a forest.’
Sisilia is one of countless individuals whose lives can be changed for the better through Project Compassion. To encourage schools to take part in this year’s campaign, students in attendance on Tuesday were presented with a special Caritas candle to take back to their local community.
To learn more about Sisilia and others featured in this year’s campaign, visit the Caritas website.