Br Denis Loft: named one of the 100 most influential people in Melbourne

The Age (Melbourne) Magazine has Br Denis Loft nominated as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Melbourne because of his ‘Coolies’ programme.

Schoolies Week is synonymous with excited 17 and 18 year olds letting loose and having a good time. But, while the majority of school graduates may choose to celebrate doing nothing other than sun baking on a beach, Br Denis Loft offers  graduates an opportunity mark their time after school as more than just a few weeks of self indulgence.

Since 2006, Br Denis Loft,  a teacher at De La Salle College in Malvern has been taking a group of Year 12 graduates to India to work as “Coolies” (unskilled labourers) to assist the work of the Brothers in Tamil Nadu, India to build houses for poor families in rural villages.

This year 12 students from De La Salle College Malvern will head to India for the six week program.

In the last three years, Br Denis and his volunteers through Coolies have built  30 houses and 2 school block.  

The Coolies program started by Br Denis has had a far and wide influence with a number of schools now offering volunteer programs as alternatives to the the Year 12 schoolies celebrations.