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MISSION STATEMENT
Edmund Rice Camps for Kids WA (Inc), an organisation inspired by the ideals of Edmund Rice, enables young adults to support children's growth in self-worth, confidence and trust by becoming role-models, friends and leaders for the children.
HISTORY
Edmund Rice Camps originated in 1979 at Parade College, Bundoora in Melbourne. The Christian Brothers who ran the college offered its resources for numerous activities for needy youngsters.
Since then the organisation has spread throughout Australia and New Zealand, Ireland, England and more recently has made its beginnings in Africa & India.
In Western Australia, from small beginnings in 1989, with only a couple of summer camps for the year, Edmund Rice Camps for Kids WA has grown to include summer and winter camps and many other activities throughout the year. This involves approximately 130 children, 130 youth volunteers and another 30 adults in various leadership and support roles.
With support from two officers and overall guidance coming from the Board and the Christian Brothers, the camps are organised and coordinated by a number of experienced young adult volunteers who are represented on the Board and a series of sub-committees and Action Groups.
CORE VALUES
We strive to continue the legacy of Edmund Rice by giving of ourselves to others, bringing hope and optimism.
We hope to promote to the community, compassion and understanding of the effects of injustice on people.
ERC is a unique community which values acceptance and love of everyone, working together for a common goal.
We aim to encourage people to look beyond all constraining life factors, prejudices and stereotypes. We value people being their true selves and we believe in the power of positive personal interactions.
We strive to provide an environment where all individuals are given freedom of choice, and their beliefs and rights are respected.
Our aim is to empower those who are marginalized, especially children, by providing them with opportunities for personal growth within an atmosphere of fun and friendship.
We aim to embrace our own ERC identity within the wider national and international Edmund Rice Camps context.
EDMUND RICE - The Man......
Edmund Rice was born in Callan, Ireland in 1762. At 17 he joined his uncle's merchant business in Waterford and quickly became a successful business man. In 1787 he married Mary Elliott, tragically however, while heavily pregnant in 1789, Mary died and their child was born premature, with fragile health. Edmund, together with other family members, took on the role of raising his daughter, also named Mary.
These events came to change Edmund's outlook on life. Over the next 13 years he became increasingly involved in sharing his time and wealth with the poor and disadvantaged. In 1802, after leaving his business, Edmund began educating street kids of Waterford in a stable. Edmund found that the boys were coming to school hungry and poorly clothed so he employed a tailor and a baker to clothe and feed the boys.
By bringing education and more importantly hope to the hopeless, Edmund dreamed of breaking the cycle of exclusion and oppression. His efforts were geared towards empowering children so that they might have faith in themselves, come to know God and participate in society to their fullest potential.
From his efforts and that of his first helpers was founded the Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers as we know them around the world.
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Hooray!!!! At long last our website is finally here! Have a good look around and drop us a line through the Contact Us menu to tell us what you think! We love hearing from you! Check out our colourful calendar to see what's happening with ERCKWA in the coming months!
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