“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”  Dr Martin Luther King Jnr

One Million Stars to End Violence is a global star weaving project that engages communities in a conversation about ending all forms of violence. St Catherine’s Senior School has pledged to create and contribute 1000 stars to the project before the end of Term 2. A joint collaboration between the School Spirit and Wellbeing Club – the A Team, and the Art Club, has made for a colourful and enthusiastic launch of the star weaving project.

The project was launched on 17 March, the ‘National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence’, and the girls also marked the importance of ‘Harmony Day’ on 21 March, by joining with the International Students’ Club to create orange stars. The message for Harmony Day was ‘Everyone Belongs’, so the orange stars sent a message of acceptance, empathy and respect for cultural and religious diversity. The colour orange relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.

Mary-Anne Talia Pau started One Million Stars to End Violence in 2012 at the vigil for Jill Meagher. In partnership with the Queensland Government, she has invited communities to join her to create an installation of one million stars during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Part of the vision of the Commonwealth Games Federation is to build peaceful and sustainable communities globally. The one million stars concept symbolises how monumental the task of ending violence is and that everyone needs to participate to end all forms of violence. Each star represents a person’s commitment to practise light, hope, courage and solidarity and the one million star installation will be a peaceful statement against all forms of violence in our communities.

Star weaving was a popular activity at the MAD Night festivities and has continued to be a lunchtime activity in the Senior School. All members of our community are invited to weave stars to assist us to meet our 1000 star target. Stars can be made from any material, paper, ribbon, newspaper etc. Coloured paper strips can be collected from the Senior School Library or Reception and the instructions for weaving the stars can be found here.

By weaving coloured stars, we want our girls to see that they can make a difference; that through their solidarity they can send a message of peace, inclusion and mutual respect.