By Matthew Sims
A group of Laverton P-12 College students have raised more than $1200 for Kids Helpline as part of a recent market project.
The Year 11 and 12 Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning [VCAL] students hosted a VCAL College Market last month and raised $1297.40 for Kids Helpline.
Acting principal Daniel Vella said the atmosphere of the market was “buzzing”.
“It was a pleasure to see the success of the stalls and the engagement from the students,” he said.
VCAL teachers Joe Dowling, Marline Tawaf, Josephine Montalti, Aida Hadzikadic and Annalee LaRiccia took the students to the Queen Victoria Market as part of their research for the event.
Students also examined the cost of organic compared to non-organic produce and compared goods from different stalls.
They also had the opportunity to speak to stall holders in the market sheds and the meat and dairy halls about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the logistics of running a market stall and issues relating to sustainability.
Students then reached out to the wider community to source gifts and donations to sell.
They interviewed staff and students about what products they would like to see and began the planning process.
The students were also responsible for running an advertising campaign to ensure all staff and students were aware of the event.
The VCAL students created a number of the goods sold on the day, including pumpkin soup from pumpkins grown in the garden and seedlings grown and sold in handmade ceramic pots.
The students have started plans to run another market later on in the year to improve on their initial success.
