“When you clean sacred ground, you don’t just clear dust. You clear the space between the spirit and the self.”

On Christmas Island, temples rise from jungle and cliffside as living, breathing places of worship that pay homage to the island’s rich history and culture.

Weekend after weekend, year after year, volunteers sweep, wash, repair and restore - preserving more than buildings.

They protect faith, family, culture and the unspoken bonds that tie generations together.

Yet this quiet work remains largely unseen and under-supported.

As caretakers grow older and fewer, an urgent question lingers: who will carry this legacy forward?

This CI Story shines a light on the temple keepers of Christmas Island, and their dedication, challenges and hope for future generations to keep this sacred tradition alive.

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