Students' look to 'pay forward'

After benefiting from the fundraising efforts of others, children at Majella Catholic Primary went looking for a way to "pay forward" the kindness shown to them.

Under a program called helping hands, students from the Balga school visit neighbouring Gladys Newton School, which caters for children with disabilities, once a week.

This year, high school student Sean Levy raised enough funds to provide each child at Majella with two pairs of new shoes.

When he presented the shoes, he set the students a challenge to find a way to also support others.

Principal Lina Bertolini said most of the students' families struggled to make ends meet, so financial support was not an option.

Instead, they decided they could give their time, energy and talents to help others in need.

To the school's surprise, the helping hands project was one of 20 from across the State to win an award from Kids Who Give WA, a program sponsored by former governor Malcolm McCusker and his wife Tonya to recognise outstanding acts of care and giving by young children.

"Witnessing the Majella Catholic Primary School students return the kindness they had been shown, by helping students with special needs at the Gladys Newton School, was inspirational," Mr McCusker said.

Ms Bertolini said Sean's initial generosity had been a "pebble in the stream" leading to other good works in the community.