INSPIRATIONAL: Emmanuel Kelly encourages St Brigid's College students Georgie McIntyre, Lily Murray and Brittany Nitschke to sing for him. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
EMMANUEL Kelly inspired students and teachers alike during a visit to Horsham's St Brigid's College on Tuesday.
Kelly was born with severe deformities from chemical warfare and raised in an orphanage in Iraq before being adopted by Children First Foundation director Moira Kelly.
The singer burst into the public eye after appearing on television show X Factor in 2011.
St Brigid's College teacher Les Butler said Kelly started off his presentation to years nine, 10 and 11 students by showing them part of the X Factor footage.
He said he then sang songs, including John Lennon's Imagine, along with some of his own.
Mr Butler said Kelly also talked to the students about his journey.
"He spoke about resilience and dreaming big,'' he said.
"He was very interactive, singing songs to kids and he got kids up there to talk about their hopes and dreams for the future.''
Father Peter Hudson was at the event. He said Kelly's main messages were hope, faith and dreaming big.
"He's got a song at the end of the year being launched in North America called Dream Big,'' he said.
Fr Hudson said Kelly spoke about his Australian-first foot-to-hand transfer.
"He showed the kids in his talk that you can overcome any difficulty, disability or disadvantage if you have hope,'' he said.
"His engaging talk got responses from them.''
Fr Hudson said Kelly would tour Canada and North America later this year.