WHEN Ailish Ryan saw a lot of homeless people sleeping rough in Melbourne, she immediately started to think of what she could do to make their lives a little brighter.
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Ailish wanted to let the city’s most needy know there were people who cared about them.
And so the idea for Ailish’s Sunshine Letters campaign began.
The 10-year-old visited the Ballarat soup and shower buses and learned that creating a card, letter or drawing to a person less fortunate could make a big difference.
Ailish first wrote a proposal of her plans to teacher Jo O’Kelly, who leads social justice action at her school Emmaus Catholic Primary School. Ailish’s dad created a bright yellow letterbox for people to post their Sunshine Letters.
The movement has delivered more than 280 letters from across the community and has fast been put in the spotlight across Ballarat.
“They’re called Sunshine Letters because sunshine makes you feel warm and happy,” Ailish said. “I wrote a letter (to Ms O’Kelly) explaining that you’d feel upset if you feel people didn’t care about you.
“...Most people start with the words ‘dear friend’, and then you write what you think makes people happy.”
See an example of what Emmaus grade five pupil Emily wrote in a Sunshine Letter below
Ailish took her campaign to the inaugural Compassion Walk by Lake Wendouree in September and has been named a Ballarat Health Services compassion hero, setting an example for staff and the community.
Just shy of her initial goal for delivering 300 letters, Ailish said she wanted to keep going a little longer.
“I’ve seen a couple of people get the letters at the Soup Bus. I saw one old man who cried when he opened it,” Ailish said. “It made me feel happy.”
Ms O’Kelly said it was impressive to see someone so young come up with a plan and consistently keep following it up to make a difference in her community.
“It’s been an honour and privilege to support Ailish with her campaign,” Ms O’Kelly said. “She’s so inspiring for her age and all the time and energy she’s putting into this.”
If you would like to help add a bright note to Ailish’s Sunshine Letters campaign, you can post it in the Emmaus foyer. All are welcome.
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