Day Two: Crossroads International Centre

After an interesting nights sleep working out the appropriate balance of air conditioning and fans within our rooms, our groups prepared their own breakfasts and then we set off to an introduction to Crossroads with DJ Begbie, one of the sons of the founders of Crossroads. DJ told the compelling story about how his family were confronted with need in various parts other world, but did not have the ability and knowledge of how they could really help. Crossroads was founded after a phone call from someone in China saying that they needed blankets and clothing for two million people who were displaced by flooding and who would die in there Chinese winter without these essential items. The Begbie family were understandably left thinking "I wish we could help but, what can we do?". Following this phone call a stream of miraculous events took place, from meeting people wanting to donate clothes to retail stores having unused stock and they were able to then meet the need of the Chinese people. From this more calls started to come in from communities and organisations that needed help and the Begbie family, in the midst of seeing these needs met started to wonder surely there was an organisation that would be able to start connecting the needs of the people with others who had the necessary resources. They were looking for the 'eBay' for global community need. They were to find out it didn't exist but from a conversation with the United Nations (UN) they were to learn there was a need for it and from this the dream of Crossroads was born.

With great passion and beautiful stories, DJ painted the picture for us of just how far reaching the hand of Crossroads is and more so that in our experience here, the reason we get out of bed in the morning "is not because of the work you will do, but because of the people that the work will serve". 

The days activities took us through a range of experiences which took us out of our comfort zones and into the world of families living in poverty through the 'Poverty Experience' where we were put into groups with other schools and as a 'Family' worked to literally make paper bags from newspapers, which we needed to then sell to shop keepers in order to make a measly wage. We were all challenged but it was incredible to see students start to see that the effect of poverty is not just a matter of no money but you start to realise that the things we call 'necessities', like medicine, sanitation, and education, are a just not options for people in these curcumstances. 

After lunch we went on a tour of CrossRoads in which we were able to see elements of the operations they have here in China and also hear some stories of the needs that are being met around the world.

Following on form this we went to the 'Fairtrade Experience' in which everyone looked at the way fair trade works and in industries such as coffee where it's not all fair trade how much different people in the supply chain earn. Students were left negotiating what they though their work deserved as farmers, or exporters and roasters which in the end turned out to be far less than anyone expected. Students left with a greater appreciation of the value in fair trade and how it leads to more equality for all people involved in the production of goods they enjoy every day, such as chocolate.

We visited a local beach, and appreciated how clean and spectacular our Australian beaches are. Dinner at the local shopping centre rounded off a busy day. Overall, day two has been incredible and only excited us all to the experiences we will have tomorrow!