by Celia Fielke
ALWS has a rich history of working in partnership with Lutheran schools, a collaboration evolving from the close connection that has always existed between our church and its schools.
The work of ALWS, grounded in the same Christian beliefs and values which underpin Lutheran Education Australia, means that together we can help grow relational and adventurous students who have hearts of compassion and purpose.
In an increasingly inward-looking world, it is more vital than ever for our church to give our young people authentic opportunities to develop empathy and understanding, especially toward those whom the world has forgotten, marginalised or ignored. We encourage our young people to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, serving and meeting the needs of communities, both locally and globally.
ALWS seeks to inspire and equip more than 44,000 students and their families by providing resources, presentations, activities and fundraising events to support schools to bring love to life through action.
This work is not done in isolation. ALWS values all our partnerships and collaborations, aiming to build a greater sense of shared ministry. This is not only with schools, but also with many churchwide and educational organisations that enable us to serve.
ALWS seeks to support the work of our amazing Lutheran school staff by running professional development workshops and providing resources. Examples of this are the Ambassador Bootcamps (ABCs), which are designed to empower staff to inspire their students, and training in some of our curriculum unit offerings.
Felicity Hampel, Lutheran school teacher and ALWS ABC participant, says the bootcamp was ‘like an answer to a prayer I didn’t know I was asking’. She says: ‘I have been seeking the next step in my teaching journey, and when I attended the ALWS bootcamp and reflected on it, it’s like two worlds collided … my love for teaching and developing empathy in my students + service learning/serving God = my calling and vocation in life.’
Working more closely in partnership with schools has been an important focus in recent times for ALWS. Having a deeper understanding of ALWS, as well as empowering advocacy and action, means students feel they can make a difference. Fostering a sense of service to others with no expectation of reciprocity is an important learning. When students hear stories and develop empathy, they are inspired to act.
One of the most effective events that schools have embraced is Walk My Way. Schools can adapt this to their context, timing and community. The creativity and excitement this can generate for schools has been inspirational. When schools take this initiative, it allows ALWS to engage with not only the students but also their families and the broader Lutheran community. These are opportunities to highlight how the parts of the church body are working together to bring love to life.
Immanuel Lutheran Primary School at Gawler in South Australia partners closely with ALWS, with staff members seeing opportunities to nurture compassion in students and develop empathy, through presentations offered by ALWS, connected curriculum units and fundraising opportunities to support the world’s most vulnerable.
In 2024, the school supported a Burundi farm partnership costing $5,200 and a school kitchen garden ($756). The school has run a successful kitchen garden program as an integral part of the curriculum for many years. Students connected with farmers’ experiences, as they understand the challenges of growing food and preparing it for eating or selling. This allowed students to more easily imagine how difficult these activities would be without the necessary equipment, training, appliances or favourable weather. Connecting their experiences with a family in Burundi, who relies on these activities for their survival, became a real empathy driver for students to want to take action.
Some students became so motivated that they organised pop-up markets. Their fundraising activities culminated in a 13-kilometre Walk My Way event. Also supported by the local church community, the school raised approximately $14,000.
Immanuel Lutheran School Principal Daryl Trigg says connecting with ALWS over this time gave the community a focus. ‘Learning went much deeper, and service was more authentic as time was given to develop connections and understanding,’ he says.
This year, Immanuel was part of the Barossa and Regions Lutheran Education (BARLE) schools. About 360 Year 5/6 students from six Lutheran primary schools, plus some Year 8s from Faith Lutheran College Tanunda, came together for an event to support the ALWS 75th anniversary goal to give 75,000 children what they need for a healthy life. After shared worship, this event involved students participating in a loop walk, as well as interacting with peers to tackle a series of group challenges, based around life’s essentials. They built a shelter, fed farm animals, planted seeds, collected water, collected items needed for health and hygiene and made a soccer ball. These tasks gave a glimpse into some of the challenges faced when impacted by poverty. ALWS provided support through student workshops, teaching and learning materials and staff development.
Year 5/6 students from St John’s Lutheran School at Jindera in New South Wales completed the ALWS ‘What’s my Business?’ curriculum unit that empowers students to put their faith into action while growing empathy and social justice awareness.
Students explored how charitable giving can build more resilient communities and create lasting change. They then became young entrepreneurs, using a $25 loan from the school to develop a small business idea (e.g. scrunchies, handmade cards, toy cars and keyrings). The unit finished with a Christmas market day, at which students sold their products to the wider school community. More than $1300 was raised, and funds were used to buy ALWS Gifts of Grace.
Principal Anna-Marie Bothe and teachers Gabrielle Cotter and Dominic Boddy say the unit was ‘very impactful’, and that it brought the school community together and ‘grew compassion in our students’.
Celia Fielke is a Schools Community Engagement Officer for ALWS.
