By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
MICHAEL Dudley wants to be a mentor to others.
He is one of 34 year 10 students from Maranatha Christian School in Endeavour Hills who are leaving for Thailand this week where they will volunteer at various children’s homes, hospitals and orphanages to help care for young people who are afflicted with HIV/AIDS.
Michael has raised more than $850 towards the trip.
“I’ve always wanted to experience a mission trip as I want to help bridge the gap between First and Third World countries,” he said.
“I really believe that if we all pitch in we can make a huge difference and I want to live by example.”
Michael started his fundraising for the annual Thai Mission Trip when he was still in year eight.
“One of my teachers said I should consider going on the trip so I went home and talked to my parents about it on the Friday and started fundraising on the Monday,” he said.
The journey will take the Maranatha students to Chiang Mai on 13 June where they will each be assigned a buddy to mentor while learning about the organisations that provide support for the children suffering from the HIV/AIDS virus.
Maranatha principal Dr Roderick Crouch said the Thai Mission Trip afforded the students an invaluable insight into a Third World country.
“We are so blessed to live in a country like Australia, so this trip provides some perspective about the world and how the majority of those within it live,” he said.
“Community service is an important part of our charter so by the students donating their time, energy and money into the trip we can facilitate an opportunity for them to give back to the world around them while engaging in a positive learning and life experience.”
Maranatha has been running the mission trip since 2000.
