Last week, Year 9 participated in an experience project where we were challenged to improve the Christmas experience for people who struggle to enjoy the holiday season. One of the student devised pitches was around the concept of gift boxes for women at Bayside Women’s Shelter. While children are typically the sole focus at Christmas time, we wanted to let women know that we see them and that they too are deserving of some luxuries.

We have been confronted by the recent stories and shocking statistics in the media about the number of women who experience domestic violence and abuse. This is an issue that impacts everyone, from every socio-economic background, every cultural and linguistic group and every age. We want to play some small part in acknowledging the situation and turn feeling helpless about it into feeling empowered to act.

To deliver on this project, we are asking for help from the Redlands community. We are asking you to donate so we can create our carefully curated gift boxes and deliver them to women at Bayside. Our boxes will include some of the essentials and some special items to make these women feel valued and provide them with gifts that they most likely wouldn’t be able to buy for themselves.

Our teacher has helped us establish this page, funds will go directly to Redlands and we will use the money raised to create the gift boxes and deliver them personally to Bayside.

With thanks,

Year 9 Redlands students