“We have no right to judge, but we have the responsibility to help”–A new Social Project at Lutheran Academy in Martin

The topic of the sermon,’cleansing the Temple,’ based on the biblical text in the Gospel of John was not a coincidence. School pastor Janka Bosakova reminded pupils of the need to cleanse the human heart of evil, prejudice, and indifference. He linked the biblical example from the fourth evangelist with a social project at Lutheran Academy (LA), which began simultaneously with Lent (fasting).

Having a right response to domestic violence

The aim of this social project is cooperation with an organization called Briezdenie and to educate students, parents, and the wider public about the various faces of domestic violence. The main goal of this fasting project is to help students to respond correctly to situations when they are confronted with domestic violence, its victims, or when they are witnesses of it.

Magdalena Filova, Director of the non-profit organization Briezdenie, was invited to speak at the student worship service at LA. This organization operates a Home Center for women and children who have been victims of domestic violence. Staff at Home Center seek to provide love, acceptance, and a safe and peaceful environment to mothers, children, and pregnant women. They provide advice and assistance in the women and children’s return to a ‘normal’ life. At the same time, they encourage their clients to learn to trust other people again, and to have hope for their futures.

Student Interest

The opportunity to learn more about this issue was offered to students at LA in Martin. Students asked many specific questions. They wondered how people who have experienced domestic violence learn about the Center. They were interested in the living conditions in the Center, what the capacity of the Center is, and how many people the Center has already helped. They were particularly focused on how the women and children did after leaving the Center. Were they able to adjust to a normal life? Were the adults able to find jobs? Is it possible to stop domestic violence? There were so many questions and so much interest that school pastor Janka Bosakova called students to show their true concern by assisting the Center through their specific social project activities.

There were vaious activities aimed at helping the Center care for abused mothers and children. Students organized a collection of canned foods, dishes, cleaning agents, and bed linens. These items were taken to the Center. High School students visited the Center and led programs, games, and other fun activities, with the children living there. In return, clients of the Center and some of the social workers visited the school.

Ongoing Support

To support this project, students suggested various creative activities and mini-projects to make money intended to help the Center. Students worked hard and are worthy of much blessing! Through the students’ involvement, parents and grandparents also got involved in the school social project. Altogether, we can learn to help and be sensitive to the needs of others—and to their often-invisible pain.