Queensland students sign up for social justice
The University of Queensland Salvation Army group at market day. (Photo courtesy of Ben Maxwell)
University of Queensland student Ben Maxwell is connecting his peers to the work of the Salvation Army through an on-campus group dedicated to social justice.
It’s just three years since Ben set up the University of Queensland (UQ) Salvation Army, but the group has been so successful, nearby universities are about to follow suit.
Studying a dual degree in law and arts, with a focus on social justice, Ben has been passionate about seeing people connect with The Salvation Army.
“The Salvos group UQ is all about getting students connected with social justice and giving them opportunities to volunteer within the Salvation Army,” says Ben. “There are so many students who just want to get involved and help.”
University of Queensland students from all backgrounds, religions and races are welcome to join. The group currently has 120 members, with new members joining up yearly.
“About 90 per cent of our group are not attached to any Salvation Army, so it’s all about connecting them to what The Salvation Army does,” says Ben.
The UQ group runs monthly events, serving The Salvation Army as needed. The group’s main connection is to The Salvation Army’s Streetlevel – a ministry in inner-city Brisbane for the homeless and at-risk youth. But their good deeds do not stop there.
“We also run fundraising barbecues and fair trade stalls that advertise the advantages of sustainable products and decent working conditions,” says Ben.
“We recently helped out at a ‘homeless connect’ event in Brisbane, where the homeless community gathers and is pampered or treated to clothing or food. Wherever there is a Salvation Army cause where they ask to send people, we get people together and get involved.”
With many other groups on offer at the university, it is the Salvation Army’s reputation that appeals to many university students. Most of them have had no interaction with the Salvation Army or any faith-based organisations in the past.
“There’s a whole range of different social justice groups, but I think there is just that trust people have for The Salvation Army. They see the logo and they automatically associate people involved with The Salvation Army as making a difference and they want to be a part of that,” says Ben.
The UQ group is run by five volunteers from the university, all from different backgrounds. While Ben is the president of the group, the group could not run without the help of the team, all of whom are passionate about seeing people engage with The Salvation Army.
“I have a very good team around me,” says Ben. “We’ve just done a fundraiser and given that money overseas to buy donkeys or gifts that keep giving. Some of the funds going to the Philippines to help out a project over there”.
The group is having a positive impact and Ben hopes to see the group continue to expand. The UQ group is currently in dialogue with the Queensland University of Technology about beginning a similar university group there.
“If people get connected to what The Salvation Army are doing, hopefully through that connection they will look into why we do what we do and make a full-time commitment,” says Ben.
“We have seen people who have come along to an event and continued to serve even after the event finishes. That type of commitment to The Salvation Army makes it all worthwhile and this is why we do it. If this group hadn’t existed, that connection probably wouldn't have occurred.”
“It’s all about bridging the gap and making connections”.
For more information, check out the group’s Facebook page, facebook.com/#!/SalvosUQ
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