High school students from all over Sydney are volunteering their time to pack over 275,000 pilgrim backpacks for World Youth Day Sydney 2008 (WYD08).
In total, over 2,500 Catholic school students will be involved in the process that will operate until June 2008.
The packing centre, in Sydney’s western suburb of Granville, is made up of 14 work-stations that are laid out like a factory production-line.
“We are really pleased to have the young people of Sydney playing such an important role in preparing for World Youth Day,” said Geoff Morris, WYD08 Director of Pilgrim Services.
“This is the perfect example of how the schools, parishes and wider communities are all coming together for a common cause. That is the whole purpose of World Youth Day,” he said.
Already over 200,000 backpacks have been prepared by the students containing items such as WYD08 books, pen, bandana, ‘Pilgrim Passport’ containing vouchers for shopping at Sydney Airport, tattoos, McDonalds voucher, rosary beads, poncho, water bottle, clip-on koala, kinetic torch and a thermal blanket.
“On the first day we ran the program, I set a target of 7,000 backpacks per day. The students packed 8,000 on the first day, and a further 10,000 on the second!” said Lina Maroun, WYD08 Warehouse Coordinator.
Upon arrival, the students from years 7-10 are provided with a brief history of World Youth Day, undergo a short training in OH&S matters and receive a demonstration of how the packing process works.
As a thank you from WYD08 staff, each student volunteer receives a backpack at the end of the session.
“The students now have a really good understanding of the significance of WYD08 being hosted in our city. They are so excited to be part of the event preparation,” said Lina.
Most of the backpacks will be sent to about 400 accommodation centres around Sydney where WYD08 Pilgrims will stay in July. Some packs will also be sent to Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra for the Days in the Diocese celebrations in the week preceding WYD08 in Sydney.
