Edmund Rice and Social Justice
Edmund Rice and the two congregations of Brothers which carried on his work have always been associated with education. Edmund saw great injustice in the Ireland of his time. He realised that restricted access to education was an important means by which this injustice was perpetrated. He realised that without education the poor, mostly Catholics, had little chance to improve their living conditions. He chose education as his way of combating social injustice in his times.
In Oceania today education is free and universally available in most of the countries . Those inspired by Edmund Rice in this part of the world see the need to use their experience as educators to include other ways of addressing the social imbalance and unjust systems which govern today's society. While not abandoning education they seek to be more targeted in who and how they educate.
There is a conscious effort to seek out those who are least able to benefit from the government financed education systems. The mainstream schools they conduct include significant justice education and awareness opportunities. They engage in advocacy work for those who are less able to gain access to those with power. They are reaching out to and walk with those groups most marginalised in our society.
